HÀ NỘI — Environmental auditing—the fair and objective vetting of environmental regulation compliance—is becoming more and more important as countries aim to achieve a fine balance between economic development and environmental protection.

Each country’s supreme audit institution (SAI), which is tasked with not only ensuring efficient and economical use of public funds, but also ensuring that the State’s policies and mechanisms on environmental protection are fully respected within the public sector, holds significant role in helping their country meet the United Nations’ goals of sustainable development.

The Hà Nội Declaration, the main outcome of the 14th assembly of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI), is expected to make significant contributions to State members’ capabilities to deal with environmental issues, as well as put forth important proposals that will further improve auditing processes and standards, Dr Hồ Đức Phớc, Auditor General of State Audit of Việt Nam (SAV), said in his remarks at the opening ceremony.

“The choice of this year’s theme ‘Environmental auditing for sustainable development’ showcases the Asian auditing community’s commitments and efforts to the issue,” Việt Nam’s auditor general Phớc said.

Dr Phớc also pledged that the SAV “would do its best for a robust ASOSAI that brings great contributions to the Asian and global economy” and turning ASOSAI into the "model regional organisation within INTOSAI" as the Vietnamese auditor officially assumes the chair position of the organisation in the 2018-21 period.

He also wished that ASOSAI members would together overcome the challenges arising from an ever changing world and the advent of the fourth industrial revolution.

Madinah Binti Mohamad, Auditor General of Malaysia and chair of ASOSAI 2015-18, in her opening remarks asked that State audits pay due attention to new realities as their role is increasingly important, with citizens becoming “better informed and more critical of Government” while the Government’s lead in the distribution of information is no longer taken for granted.

She urged State audits to “listen to claims from citizens who are becoming more and more involved in public decisions and actions,” and calling for “independent SAIs, highly technical and sophisticated, acting under strict ethical codes.”

Also addressing the opening ceremony, President of International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), of which ASOSAI is one of the seven regional members, Harib Al Amimi, said INTOSAI had benefited substantially from the formation of its regional groups over the past 50 years.

“With a combination of countries of different sizes, languages and cultures, ASOSAI has emerged as an active professional body and has managed to thread together the global initiatives into the regional context,” he said.