The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation organized two workshops on strengthening the legal and institutional framework for combating corruption in Egypt in accordance with the best international standards, and the dialogue between the public and private sectors in the field of combating corruption, in collaboration with the Administrative Control Authority, within the projects of the Egypt Country Program with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in the presence of representatives of national partner entities, OECD officials, representatives of the private sector and civil society institutions.
H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, delivered the opening speech, emphasizing that the two workshops reflect the Arab Republic of Egypt's firm commitment to combating corruption, enhancing transparency and business integrity across various sectors, as combating corruption is a collective responsibility that requires effective cooperation between the government, private sector institutions, and civil society, which comes in line with Egypt's directions to promote a participatory approach to to enhance efforts to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, as well as support and strengthen existing initiatives adopted by the state within the framework of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
She added that the two workshops aim to achieve a set of objectives, most notably: Introducing the OECD’s anti-corruption standards and tools. Launching a multilateral dialogue that focuses on the challenges associated with business integrity and the risks that may face the activation of anti-corruption mechanisms and ways to overcome them.
In this context, Al-Mashat stated that Egypt reaffirms its continuous commitment to developing legislative and regulatory frameworks in line with international best practices, as well as enhancing cooperation between various national and international entities to ensure tangible progress in anti-corruption efforts and promote the principles of integrity and transparency in the business environment. This is in light of Egypt's constant keenness to share its expertise with all countries and international institutions in all fields.
H.E. highlighted the fruitful cooperation with the Administrative Control Authority in in one of the projects of the OECD Egypt Country Program, noting that the country program comes as a result of close and continuous cooperation between Egypt and the OECD, which includes many initiatives and programs, with 35 projects being implemented in collaboration with relevant national authorities, within the framework of the program's five pillars.
The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation explained that the workshop highlighted one of the most important issues facing all societies, as combating corruption is not only a legal responsibility, but a national and moral obligation, and a necessity to ensure justice, protect citizens' rights, promote sustainable and comprehensive development, and consolidate the values of integrity and transparency in our various institutions.
Al-Mashat added that the Anti-Corruption Enhancement Project, in cooperation with the Administrative Control Authority, aims to support the efforts of the Egyptian state in implementing the goals of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, by promoting the values of transparency and business integrity, and strengthening the legal and institutional framework, affirming that the project seeks to increase society's awareness of the importance of combating corruption, enhance international and regional cooperation in this field, in addition to encouraging the participation of civil society organizations and the private sector in preventing corruption, believing that fighting corruption is a collective responsibility that requires concerted efforts by all actors in society.
In this context, Al-Mashat confirmed Egypt's ongoing commitment to developing legislative and regulatory frameworks in line with international best practices, as well as enhancing cooperation between various national and international entities to ensure tangible progress in anti-corruption efforts and promote the principles of integrity and transparency in the business environment.