HÀ NỘI – The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Việt Nam, the State Audit of Việt Nam (SAV), and the French International Technique Expertise Agency (Expertise France) have launched a project supporting SAV.

Under the three-year capacity-building project, with total funding of EUR3.9 million (US$4.33 million), Expertise France will help develop the SAV’s human resources, enhance its audit planning and modernise its audit methods and management processes to bring them in line with the standards of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions, international good practices and the SAV’s development action plan.

The project is part of the EU Public Finance Modernisation Programme signed by Việt Nam’s Government and the EU in 2014 to improve the management and oversight of public finance in the country.

The programme also received financial support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Speaking at a ceremony last Friday to mark the project launching, SAV Auditor General Hồ Đức Phớc said effective governance and the rule of law had played important roles in Việt Nam’s development process, particularly when it came to ensuring deeper international integration.

 He said SAV played a key role in improving the Government’s accountability, reporting, transparency and oversight of public finances.

It also joined other relevant agencies in the fight against corruption, he said.

“The SAV’s Development Strategy until 2020, which was approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee in 2010, identified key points and measures to promote transparency, quality, efficiency and increasing value in performing audits,” Phớc said.

He applauded the capacity-building support project announced this morning as it was in line with SAV’s action plan for 2020.

The Ambassador of the Delegation of the EU to Việt Nam, Bruno Angelet, also stressed the importance of good governance and the rule of law for sustainable development and economic growth in Việt Nam.

He also said increased transparency would benefit the country’s economy, noting that SAV played a crucial role in maintaining a sound budget-oversight system.

He said Việt Nam had successfully reduced poverty to an extent but more efforts were needed to manage the State budget and resources.

He said support related to budget management would start with the key sectors of healthcare and education.

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Việt Nam, Beatrice Maser Mallor, said SAV needed to improve its legal position and expertise to realise its ambitious plan of becoming a major auditing institution in the ASEAN.

She said SECO had given priority to supporting countries like Việt Nam through financial management to ensure that public resources would be used efficiently and effectively. -- VNS