Heads of GCC state audit bodies meet in Muscat

MUSCAT: Shaikh Ghosn bin Hilal al Alawi, Chairman of the State Audit Institution, chaired the 20th meeting of the heads of the GCC Audit and Accounting Institutions and Bureaus, which began on October 18, at the headquarters of Consultative Authority of the GCC Supreme Council in Muscat.

In opening remarks, Al Alawi pointed out that the roles assigned to the Audit and Accounting Institutions and Bureaus are significant. Inspired by the vision and directions of the GCC leaders, this role demonstrates a commitment to protecting public funds and enhancing efficiency in the use of state resources in support of sustainable economic growth and societal well-being.

The meeting focused on the importance of research as exemplified by the 6th Competition of the Cooperation Council for Research and Studies in the field of audit and accounting.

He lauded the significance of joint Gulf action in enhancing the institutional performance of the member institutions and bureaus by sharing institutional expertise, building professional competencies and preparing unified work manuals, which come through mutual visits, seminars and collaborative training activities, as well as research competitions and other activities.

Sultan bin Nasser al Suwaidi, Assistant Secretary-General for Legislative and Legal Affairs, said the GCC Audit Bureaus and Institutions are keen to reflect joint work through exchanging experiences and building functional capabilities and competencies of their members through a variety of specialized professional activities, which has contributed to the effectiveness of their role in the national work system. His Excellency also stressed the keenness of the GCC Secretariat General on the effective management of organizational and technical activities.

The meeting focused on the importance of research as exemplified by the 6th Competition of the Cooperation Council for Research and Studies in the field of audit and accounting.

The meeting focused on the importance of research as exemplified by the 6th Competition of the Cooperation Council for Research and Studies in the field of audit and accounting. Attendees discussed a proposal to update the regulation organizing the competition that aims to highlight the best professional practices in auditing, as well as enhancing the audit culture and spreading it among employees.

Participants also discussed proposals for the signing of MoUs with King Fahd National Library to enhance the sources of knowledge for the employees of member States’ Institutions and Bureaus, and the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) with the aim of developing the capabilities of the employees in the member states’ Institutions.

In addition, the meeting discussed the training plan for the years 2024-2025 and reviewed the operational plan of the training strategic plan, which aims to develop the capabilities and skills of employees in the Audit Bureaus, exchange experiences, and enhance cooperation in the field of skills and knowledge development, scientific research and professional qualification. The training strategic plan also aims to develop institutional capacities in the field of training, development and knowledge.