Vietnam to develop environmental auditing in line with international practice

As the host of the four-day event, the State Audit of Vietnam has implemented many solutions in environmental auditing to meet practical requirements and to keep in line with international trends and practices.

ASOSAI 14, to be held in Vietnam for the first time, is expected to attract 350 delegates from 46 ASOSAI members.

The State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) will Chair the ASOSAI for its tenure until 2021 and will serve as a member of the ASOSAI Governing Board for three consecutive terms until 2024.

Ho Duc Phoc, Auditor General of the State Audit of Vietnam, said the assembly will contribute to strengthening the capacity of regional supreme state auditors.

He noted, “The assembly is a venue for Vietnam to promote its image, people, culture, and cooperation potential. It also offers an opportunity for SAV to prove its growth and prestige during the international integration process. It will help strengthen the solidarity of Asian Supreme Audit Institutions, increase the exchange of experience in auditing activities, and coordinate to realize common targets thus contributing to the Asian and world economy.”

The environment and sustainable development are of great importance to many countries around the globe. In Vietnam, environmental issues have received ample attention in recent years. Much of the State budget and private resources have been invested in environmental protection. The urgent problem Vietnam now faces is the methods used to monitor and use those resources effectively.

A symposium themed “Environmental Audit for Sustainable Development” will be held as part of the 14th ASOSAI Assembly, demonstrating the organization’s commitment  to global efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and solve environmental challenges.

Phoc noted that as a member of the ASOSAI Governing Board, the SAV has established a working group on environmental auditing and piloted environmental audits. It has increased international cooperation in environmental auditing.

Phoc explained, “The SAV has chosen environmental auditing for sustainable development as the theme of the 14th ASOSAI Assembly, because environmental issues are pivotal to the sustainable development of the Vietnamese economy and investment attraction. SVA will focus on environmental audit activities in the future.”

In 2008, the SAV included environmental auditing in its action plan for implementing its development strategy until 2022.