The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates “Madayn”, in cooperation with the State Financial and Administrative Audit Authority, organised the First Institutional Integrity Forum, with the participation of Madayn officials, specialists and employees. The two-day forum comes along the lines of efforts to disseminate auditing awareness, promote the principles of integrity and transparency, and highlight legislation and regulations related to the protection of public funds.
The forum aims at supporting institutional practices that improve performance efficiency, optimise the use of resources and prevent conflict of interests. The forum is also designed to strengthen integration and coordination between the State Audit and internal audit units, and promote a work environment built on responsibility, commitment and institutional discipline. These efforts align with the pillars of Oman Vision 2040, which emphasise the principles of transparency, justice and integrity as keystones for building effective institutions, strengthening trust and achieving sustainable development.
Speaking at the forum, Aliaa Al Hinai, Director of Internal Audit Department at Madayn, emphasised the significance of promoting integrity and transparency and strengthening a culture of auditing and responsibility across Madayn. She noted that the forum presents an ideal platform for exchanging expertise and knowledge, and highlighting practices that contribute to enhancing governance and institutional integrity.
On her part, Madiha Al Sibani, Director of Public Establishments and Food Security Audit Department at the State Audit, pointed out that the Institutional Integrity Forum is among the awareness initiatives implemented by the State Audit in cooperation with the bodies subject to its audit, educational institutions and civil society organisations.
Al Sibani elaborated that such initiatives aim to strengthen awareness of integrity and transparency in the workplace, highlight job duties and responsibilities, and enhance knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks related to the protection of public funds. She stressed that institutional partnership represents a key pillar in achieving common objectives, noting that promoting integrity goes beyond legal and auditing frameworks to include awareness, responsibility, commitment and daily practices in the workplace. She added that the State Audit provides a range of awareness materials through its website and social media platforms to raise awareness of matters related to public funds and responsibilities associated with civil service.
Day one of the forum featured papers addressing ‘Transparency and its Role in Promoting Integrity and Protecting Public Funds’, ‘Employee Rights and Duties: Insights from the Code of Conduct for Civil Servants’, and ‘An Overview of the Law on the Protection of Public Fund and Avoidance of Conflict of Interests’. Moreover, the second day of the forum will focus on ‘Institutional Integration between the State Audit and Internal Audit Units’ and ‘Complaints and Reports: Towards an Effective Partnership in Protecting Public Funds’, in addition to reviewing key observations and practices identified within Madayn.
