Saudi Gazette report

PARIS — Saudi Arabia, represented by Dr. Hussam Al-Anqari, President of the General Court of Audit, participated Tuesday in the first steering committee meeting of the Global Project on the Independence of Supreme Audit Institutions, held in Paris.

The meeting brought together the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the INTOSAI Development Initiative, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Dr. Al-Anqari highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pride in being part of this wide-reaching initiative aimed at promoting the independence of supreme audit institutions worldwide.

He stressed that independence is essential for effective performance, enhancing efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the public sector, and safeguarding the role of oversight bodies in confronting challenges that threaten their autonomy.

He noted that under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the General Court of Audit has been granted full independence through amendments to its regulations, making it directly linked to the King, with full financial and administrative autonomy. This, he said, has enabled the Court to strengthen transparency, accountability, and perform its functions effectively.

The Saudi delegation included Lama Al-Hamadi, Executive Vice President for Financial Audit and Compliance, along with audit directors Mai Al-Turki and Raghad Al-Othaim, who shared their recommendations during the discussions on the project’s progress.

The global project, launched in cooperation with the INTOSAI Development Initiative and the OECD, seeks to identify best practices, highlight the positive impact of audit independence, and address the challenges facing supreme audit institutions across the world.