Bahrain chairs training and development committee for GCC Supreme Audit Institution employees

Manama, Aug. 26 (BNA): Bahrain chaired the 29th meeting of the Training and Development Committee for employees of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which was held virtually. Attendees of the virtual meeting were briefed on training programs held in 2020, with special focus on experiences gained and members ‘remote training initiatives due to the Corona pandemic (Covid 19). In this regard, the Committee stressed the need to develop further virtual training to ensure ongoing development during pandemics and to evaluate future virtual training programmes. Participants were informed about the 2021-2022 draft training plan and the programmes and devices needed for its implementation. Procedures for the fifth GCC competition for Research and Studies in the field of Auditing and Accounting were discussed as well as the participation from GCC SAIs, including a joint research by Somaya Saleh Al-Mir and Maryam Ibrahim Talib from the NAO Bahrain on the automation of audit work and its role in enhancing performance. The committee also reviewed the efforts of the GCC countries in confronting the coronavirus pandemic and their reports to the General Secretariat on the achievements that were implemented as a result. Based on the initiative of NAO Bahrain, the Committee recommended the preparation of a three-year strategic training plan to include projects not yet achieved in the previous plan (2016-2020) and new projects to meet the objectives for 2022-2024. The State Audit Bureau of Kuwait suggested resuming the Gulf symposium, held every two years, provided that the title of the next symposium would be “Challenges Facing the Supreme Audit Institutions after the Corona Pandemic” and that it be implemented according to the procedures previously approved by the heads of the respective SAIs. The General Court of Audit of Saudi Arabia also submitted a proposal to amend the name of the Ministerial Committee to "Supreme Audit institutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council". The Committee recommended that these proposals be submitted at the next meeting of the heads of SAIs and their deputies.