Georgia hosts an international forum, organized by the Public Internal Financial Control department/Central Harmonization Unit of Ministry of Finance of Georgia and the World Bank, within the frameworks of PEMPAL (Public Expenditure Management Peer Assisted Learning) program, which is attended by over 75 delegates from 27 countries of Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe.
Today's Forum was opened in hotel “Biltmore” by Deputy Minister of Finance, Giorgi Kakauridze and World Bank's Regional Director for the South Caucasus, Mercy Tembon.
PEMPAL is a union established by the World Bank, members of which are public officials operating in public expenditure management area, and it is aimed on sharing knowledge and experience related to management of public finances, to Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe.
Format includes working groups united around the three components of public finance management: Treasury, Budget and Internal Audit.
"Forum is held in Georgia with the support of the World Bank, which is related to the issues of the development of internal audit. We have a good experience in this direction, but still remaining quite significant reforms, therefore, this meeting will help as us as representatives of the countries participating in it, to implement reforms in practice, which is related to the implementation of internal audit, including financial management and control systems, which finally gives us opportunity to use public finances efficiently", - has noted Deputy Minister of Finance, Giorgi Kakauridze.
"This is a very important meeting. Representatives of PEMPAL member countries arrived to Georgia for sharing of their experience how to manage effectively public finances. As you know, one of the most important tasks of civil service is to overcome the challenges of corruption and misuse of public funds. The meeting is important from the point of view, that will be studied and shared that practice which ensures efficient use of public funds ", - has stated World Bank's Regional Director for the South Caucasus, Mercy Tembo.
"We are at practical meeting of internal audit community of PEMPAL. We gather in order to share our experiences, identify the ways of solving problems, in order to make bold steps toward implementation of reforms in public sector and specifically internal audit. We intend to discuss the importance and impact of internal audit of public sector. Also we are going to discuss how to act more efficiently to get relevant results and qualitative services for citizens. Georgia was very actively involved in the practical work of the internal audit community, since it is founding - 2006, by demonstrating progressive reforms and major achievements. Besides sharing best practices, one of the reasons for meeting in Georgia, is the desire to acquire experience from our host country, which has already implemented important reforms. Despite the fact that we are representatives of different countries, the challenges facing the country, nevertheless are identical in the process of public sector reforms, public financial management reforms and internal audit reforms. Consequently, the lesson that has been studied by a particular state will be suitable and useful for other countries," – has stated World Bank project manager, Arman Vatyan.
The Forum, in organizing of which German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) was actively involved, will work until November 2. On October 29-31, the working meeting will be held within the frameworks of the same organization related to the internal control issues. It is noted, that Georgia had hosted PEMPAL plenary meetings also in 2013 in direction of internal audit.
PEMPAL (Public Expenditure Management Peer Assisted Learning) program was founded in 2005 by the World Bank. The program is aiming to increase the qualification of the officials working in the area of public finances management by mutual sharing of knowledge and experience. Nowadays, the program has already united the representatives from 27 countries of Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe.