The Anti-Corruption Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly organized a workshop on Risk Assessment and Public Procurement
- Wed, 20 June 2018
The opening ceremony of the Risk Assessment and
Public Procurement workshop, jointly held by the Myanmar Anti-Corruption
Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), took place
on June 20, 2018, at 09:00 AM at the Anti-Corruption Commission office in Nay
Pyi Taw. Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman U Aung Kyi, Secretary U San Win,
and members of the commission, along with Director General U Htin Kyaw,
officials and the Commission Office’s staff, as well as experts from the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) including Mr. Constantine Miltchev Palicarsky
and Ms. Cornelia Anna Kortl, were present during the workshop.
At the opening ceremony, Anti-Corruption
Commission Chairman U Aung Kyi and UNODC expert Mr. Constantine Miltchev
Palicarsky delivered respective opening remarks.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the
Commission highlighted that procurement activities constitute a significant
portion of public fund expenditures. He emphasized that this workshop serves as
a platform where heads of the department and businessmen can engage in
meaningful interactions, while also acknowledging that it is precisely in such
settings that the risk of corruption is at its highest. Based on the 2013
report by the OECD, approximately 20% to 25% of government’s procurement
spending worldwide is wasted due to corruption. The loss in our country due to
corruption surpasses the average percentage by a significant margin. Measures
will soon be implemented to regulate public funds, and it will not be only the
Commission’s responsibility to prevent damages resulting from rule violations.
Therefore, this workshop is being held with the technical assistance of UNODC
to provide the required professional skills. However, the Commission alone
cannot accomplish this crucial task, which holds great significance for the
State. It is essential for the officials leading the government’s procurement
activities to demonstrate integrity and responsibility in order to prevent
corruption based on their respective roles. Hence, it is imperative for them to
conduct observational studies. The aim of providing analysis and investigative
skills, as mentioned, is to effectively prevent and mitigate the risk of
corruption in procurement activities.
After the opening ceremony, the workshop
continued with the guidance of UNODC experts, Mr. Constantine Miltchev
Palicarsky and Ms. Cornelia Anna Kortl. They addressed specific topics related
to corruption risks in the public sector procurement process. The workshop was
attended by 6 Commissioners from the Anti-Corruption Commission, along with 25
officers. In total, 31 individuals actively participated in the discussions.
The workshop will be held in 3 days, from June 20, 2018, to June 22, 2018.