News in English     | 19.11.2019. 17:14 |

Anti-corruption and fraud conference - Public procurement in focus

FENA Muamer Selimbegovic

SARAJEVO, November 19 (FENA) - The conference on combating corruption and fraud continued today in Sarajevo to mark the International Fraud Awareness Week in BiH.

The focus of the second day of marking this international initiative, organized in BiH by Deloitte audit and consulting company and its partners, is a topic dedicated to public procurement fraud and the question - how to prevent them?

Several international organizations have also supported the International Fraud Awareness Week in BiH.

Head of the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) "Strengthening of Public Institutions in BiH" project Mathias Muehle confirmed for FENA that the public procurement process and its reform is a key element for attracting foreign investment and improving the investment climate in BiH in general.   

Referring to the issue of the legislative framework in the field of public procurement in BiH, the Head of Project of the German Governmental Organization for Technical Assistance and Cooperation in the area of BiH, stressed that the Draft Law on Public Procurement is updated, and for its successful implementation it is necessary to draw up relevant by-laws.

He recalled that engagement in the GIZ program, among other things, implies the improvement of the public procurement system in BiH, and in that framework he supports the BiH Public Procurement Agency as well as the public procurement review body in BiH.

“Public procurement is crucial for the efficient use of public funds, which is why we support the reform of the public procurement system in BiH,” said Muehle, one of the keynote speakers at the panel dedicated to elaborating public procurement fraud and preventing it.

He added that one of the prerequisites for positive changes in that area is the development of e-procurement (electronic public procurement procedures) and e-auctions, which implies faster and more efficient public procurement procedures, as well as eliminating fraud, corruption and illegal practices in that area.

The conference, which focuses on the fight against corruption and fraud, outlines the legal framework and mechanisms for protecting “whistleblowers” (a person who informs on a person or organization engaged in an illicit activity), and discusses the role of the media and NGOs in whistleblower protection, as well as regional cyber security trends.

As stated in the introductory part of the central conference, the causes of corruption and fraud 'lie' in the lack of transparency about key financial flows, weaknesses or lack of appropriate institutions and lack of reaction, i.e. impunity and inefficiency in prosecuting those responsible for corruption.

In this regard, fraud and corruption are estimated to be the two biggest obstacles to attracting foreign direct investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that catching up with these barriers will improve the economy and result in job growth and improved general well-being of citizens.

The International Fraud Awareness Week is marked for the first time this year in Bosnia and Herzegovina by a series of events aimed at raising awareness of the importance of combating financial crime, fraud and corruption, their prevention and consequences, as well as educating public on these topics.

The marking of this week began on Monday with a central conference that gathered more than 140 participants in the BiH capital, and will be completed by a panel on fraud and corruption in arbitration proceedings, scheduled for Friday, November 22.

The International Fraud Awareness Week initiative is being celebrated worldwide from November 18-22.

The event, organized in Sarajevo, gathered representatives of BiH institutions, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of international organizations and companies in BiH, as well as representatives of the academic community, non-governmental organizations and media, and eminent experts from the region and the world.

This event is sponsored by BiH Presidency Chairman Željko Komšić, and partners and organizers of the event, along with Deloitte BiH, are the BiH Ministry of Security, Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption, Anti-Corruption and Quality Control Office of the Sarajevo Canton, GIZ, EU Office, INFOHOUSE Foundation, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), School of Economics and Business, University of Sarajevo (UNSA), Faculty of Criminal Justice, Criminology and Security Studies of the University of Sarajevo, UNSA Law School, Criminal Policy Research Center (CPRC), Association Arbitri.  

(FENA) A. B.

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