On October 9-10, a delegation of Uzbekistan led by the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency Akmal Burkhanov made a working visit to Qatar.

For reference: Qatar, with a score of 58, ranks 40th in Transparency International’s 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index.

The main purpose of the visit was to strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure the implementation of agreements in the fight against corruption reached during the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Qatar.

On the first day of the visit, members of the delegation held meetings with the heads of the State Audit Bureau and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center of the State of Qatar.

In particular, during the meeting with the leadership of the State Audit Bureau, the prospects for mutual cooperation between the two departments in ensuring legitimate procurement procedures, the financial control system, and improving the qualifications of civil servants in this area were discussed.

For reference: The State Audit Bureau of the State of Qatar was established in 1973 and is a special authorized body exercising financial control in the country, as well as responsible for conducting audits of government agencies and ensuring legitimate procurement procedures.

Following the meeting, the Bureau and the Agency agreed to sign a cooperation agreement, jointly develop a training program for representatives of the financial sector, accounting, auditors and other specialists exercising government financial control, improve electronic programs in the field of public procurement (Qatar - Archer GRC and Uzbekistan - exarid.uz platform), as well as organizing short-term training courses for Bureau and Agency employees.

The Qatari side put forward a proposal to develop and sign an agreement on interdepartmental cooperation between the State Audit Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan.

Then the Uzbekistan delegation held meeting with representatives of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center, during which they discussed the implementation of the agreement reached between the leaders of the two countries to hold the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award ceremony Uzbekistan on October 1-2, as well as issues of strengthening cooperation between the Agency and the Center.

For reference: The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center of the State of Qatar was established in 2011 in cooperation with the UN to ensure continued compliance with the principles of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its effective implementation.

The meeting discussed a wide range of issues, including the development of cooperation in the main areas of the Center’s activities, organizational aspects of the award ceremony, preparatory processes, and approval of the list of invited participants.

On the second day of the visit, meetings were organized with the leadership of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority and the Attorney General of the State of Qatar.

At the meeting with the Attorney General, issues of the organization’s participation in the fight against corruption, areas of cooperation, and prospects for joint cooperation projects were discussed.

At the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority the parties discussed issues of mutual exchange of experience in such areas as coordination of anti-corruption activities of government agencies, ensuring openness and transparency of government agencies, preventive measures in the fight against corruption, involvement of NGOs and the public in the fight against corruption, launching joint youth projects.

For reference: The Administrative Control and Transparency Authority was created in accordance with the Emiri Decree in order to establish control, ensure transparency, impartiality and fight corruption in all its forms and manifestations.

An agreement was also reached to determine practical measures for the implementation of the bilateral memorandum signed during the visits of the heads of states.

During the meetings, the parties identified specific tasks and plans for each area and expressed interest in their implementation.

Press Office

The Anti-Corruption Agency