Predsient to Inaugurate 7th ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption

Predsient to Inaugurate 7th ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific

Initiative to Discuss Building Multi-Disciplinary Framework to Combat Corruption

The 7th Regional Anti-corruption Initiative of the ADB/OECD for Asia and the Pacific will be held in New Delhi from September 28 & 29, 2011. The Conference is aimed at building multi-disciplinary frameworks to combat corruption. President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will inaugurate the Conference in the presence of MoS for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension and PMO Shri V. Naraynasamy, experts from 28 member countries and economies of ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption initiative and delegates/ eminent personalities including CVC, CIC from India. The Conference will also have experts from all the relevant disciplines – representing international organizations, leading enterprises and businesses associations, civil society, and multilateral and donor organizations.

The need for multidisciplinary frameworks for combating corruption is also reflected in prevailing international standards, such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and other OECD instruments. These instruments address the problem from every angle – prevention in the public and private sectors, detection and law enforcement. The ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific, and the Government of India, have organized this conference to help governments, businesses and citizens in Asia-Pacific find holistic approaches to the corruption problem.

This Conference will provide a forum on establishing and implementing in Asia-Pacific some of the main features of an effective multidisciplinary anti-corruption framework: 1) international cooperation in multijurisdictional corruption investigations; 2) measures to prevent and detect corruption in public procurement; 3) corporate compliance, internal controls and ethics measures to fight corruption; and 4) strong citizen contributions to these frameworks. Additional smaller breakout sessions will delve further into more specialized areas of interest, Additional smaller breakout sessions will delve further into more specialized areas of interest, such as effective international information-sharing in investigations; public procurement in high risk sectors; features of an effective corporate compliance programme; and strengthening citizens’ participation to increase integrity and transparency in government.

Corruption is a multifaceted problem - a multi-headed hydra - which requires to be attacked through multi-pronged strategies. This calls for the creation of multi-disciplinary frameworks. The need for such multidisciplinary frameworks for combating corruption is also reflected in prevailing international standards, such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, etc. These instruments seek to address the problem from every angle, i.e., -

(a) prevention in the public as well as private sectors;

(b) detection though control mechanisms, audits, complaint mechanisms and institutional investigations; and

(c) law enforcement, through prosecutions and penalties.

The Government of India and the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific are organising the Regional Conference as a platform to decide upon holistic approaches which would enhance coordination of efforts of all players involved in the fight against corruption and reduce jurisdictional conflicts amongst them.

This Conference is designed for policy makers, legislators, compliance practitioners, and civil society and private sector representatives seeking holistic solutions to corruption in Asia-Pacific. Individuals interested in attending should contact the Government of India or the Secretariat of the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific to request an invitation.

It is pertinent to note that in 2009, consequent to G-20 action, of which India is an active partner, tax haven countries and secret jurisdictions like Switzerland, gave a commitment to end bank secrecy and to enter into effective Tax Information Exchange Agreements with every country. Consequently, India has been able to negotiate a number of new Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) with focus countries like Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Monaco, etc. Government of India has also signed an amendment to the tax treaty with Switzerland and the Swiss Parliament has accorded its approval to the treaty recently, which allows India to obtain banking information from Switzerland in specific cases for the period starting from 1st April, 2011.

The Conference will be preceded by the Steering Group Meeting of the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific. The Steering Group will discuss and adopt the Initiative’s Strategy and Work Programme 2012-2014, and agree on the initiative’s specific activities for 2012. Discuss progress on the Thematic Review on Corporate Compliance, Internal Controls, Ethics Measures, and the Tax Deductibility of Bribes and hear reports on specific developments in the anti-corruption field by Steering and Advisory Group members and observes. It will also discuss and adopt the revised Country Reporting Template.