India and Saudi Arabia sign landmark agreement on public sector auditing

In a significant move to enhance bilateral cooperation in public sector auditing, India and Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding today in Riyadh. The agreement was signed by Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and Dr. Hussam Al-Angari, President of the Saudi General Court of Audit. The signing ceremony was also attended by Dr. Suhel Khan, the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The MoU aims to foster collaboration and facilitate the exchange of expertise between the two nations in the realm of public sector auditing. Key areas of cooperation include conducting joint training programs on financial, performance, and compliance audits, as well as exchanging audit manuals and methodologies. During the ceremony, both parties engaged in discussions on various issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in international forums. The Indian delegation was also briefed on Saudi Arabia’s transition from cash to accrual accounting and Saudi’s professional capacity-building initiatives.

The signing of this agreement is expected to further strengthen the already close working relationship between the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Saudi General Court of Audit.This development comes at a crucial time, as Saudi Arabia prepares to assume the Chairmanship of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) from India next year. India currently holds the Chair of ASOSAI. This MoU marks another milestone in the growing partnership between India and Saudi Arabia, reflecting their commitment to enhancing governance and accountability in public sector operations.

By Vinod Kumar (Dubai)