The Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions of the Association of Portuguese Speaking Countries (OISC/CPLP) held a seminar in the East Timor capital Díli to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Parliament Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister of East Timor took part in the seminar and presided over the celebrations which took place from 29 June to 1 July. To further strengthening the relationship with the supreme audit institutions (SAI) of the Portuguese speaking countries and regions, the Commissioner of Audit Ho Veng On attended the activities at the invitation of the organisation.

SAI of eight country-members and regions (observers) took part in the seminar, whose main themes were: “SAI’s role in a country of rule of law” and “The importance of cooperation among the SAI for their institutional development and competence enhancement”. The Chairman of Parliament of East Timor made a speech during the seminar, which was held for the first time in the country.

Ho Veng On’s address was on the first theme, in which he expanded on the SAI’s duty to assist the governments to monitor and control the management and application of public money by public departments, in order to ensure the public resources would be effectively managed and the set objectives being met, promoting this way the development of the society and that the public money should be spent on where the people’s interests lay. During the seminar, Ho Veng On discussed and examined the most recent evolutions in audit works with other participants, which fully demonstrates Macau’s cultural and linguistic advantage in furthering technical exchange with Portuguese speaking countries and regions.

The closing ceremony of the seminar was chaired by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, who underlined the desire that East Timor could further strengthen its ties with all OISC/CPLP members. SAI of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal and S.Tomé e Príncipe took part in the seminar and the celebrations.