The world needs a strong and active INTOSAI, says Minister Vital do Rêgo

After a three-year term leading the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) concluded its mandate as the organization's leader this Wednesday, October 29. TCU President, Minister Vital do Rêgo, formally handed the INTOSAI presidency over to the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Egypt during the opening of the XXV International Congress of INTOSAI (XXV INCOSAI). Egypt's Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, attended the meeting.

In his farewell address, Minister Vital do Rêgo reaffirmed INTOSAI's role in strengthening democracy worldwide. "More than ever, the world needs a strong and active INTOSAI. At a time of growing erosion of trust in institutions and democratic fragility in several countries, our organization plays an essential role in strengthening democracy and good governance, ensuring that public resources are used for the benefit of the people and with total transparency, he stressed.

The Rio Declaration, approved in November 2022 during Minister Bruno Dantas s tenure, guided the Brazilian leadership of INTOSAI. The declaration established strategic directives, including adopting a global voice, strengthening the independence of SAIs, and ensuring transparency in operations. According to Vital do Rêgo; consolidating INTOSAI's global voice was one of the most important achievements of the Brazilian administration.

"We aim to reaffirm the relevance of our Organization on the international stage by fostering and expanding dialogue with multilateral bodies, the United Nations, and regional organizations. This sustained engagement has been essencial in enabling INTOSAI to consolidate itself as a unified and cohesive community, capable of presenting a singular voice in addressing major global challenges", stated the President of the TCU.

Minister Vital do Rêgo sincerely thanked INTOSAI Secretary General Margit Kraker for her crucial support to the initiatives undertaken during the Brazilian presidency. He also acknowledged the presidents of the European Court of Auditors and the SAIs of South Africa, India, and Saudi Arabia for effectively leading the organization's main committees.

The President highlighted several key accomplishments of the Brazilian leadership, including the ClimateScanner initiative, the development of the Audit Guide on Energy Transition, and the strengthening of the Supervisory Committee on Emerging Issues (SCEI) and the Centre for Advanced Studies (CASt). He also highlighted the creation of JURISAI with the support of the SAIs of France, Morocco and Portugal, as well as the Multidimensional Poverty Project, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Click here to learn more about Brazil's achievements in INTOSAI.

Throughout his speech, Vital do Rêgo emphasized the collaborative spirit of INTOSAI members. On behalf of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts, I thank all the colleagues and partners in this great community. It was an honor and a privilege to serve INTOSAI and witness the tangible results that our unity can generate for the societies we represent, he said.

Before the symbolic act of transferring the INTOSAI leader's badge to Mohamed El-Faisal Youssef, Minister Vital do Rêgo praised Youssef's leadership. I give special recognition to Mr. El-Faisal, whose leadership and sensitivity have been crucial in recognizing the importance of our initiatives and ensuring the continuity of all these projects. I have full confidence that Egypt will leave a lasting legacy at the forefront of INTOSAI and keep alive the cooperation and vision that inspired each of these actions, he commented.

In his inaugural speech, Mohamed El-Faisal Youssef, the President of SAI Egypt, acknowledged the progress made by the Brazilian administration and pledged to continue initiatives and projects that promote sustainable development, SAI independence, and public sector improvement. One of his priorities for the next three years is investing in artificial intelligence to improve government auditing results.

Egypt's Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, attended the opening of the assembly and emphasized the importance of external control for the stability and development of nations. Auditing is not merely an instrument to point out errors; it is fundamentally a tool for improvement. The Arab Republic of Egypt fully supports the independent actions of SAIs. We all share the same objectives and must work together. The future demands collaboration, not competition and rivalry, he said in his welcome address to the delegations.

Read also:

• Vital do Rêgo presides over the INTOSAI Governing Board meeting and presents results

• TCU presents actions carried out during its INTOSAI presidency at a congress in Egypt