New Delhi, Feb 1 : Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has taken over the chairmanship of SAI20 with India assuming the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022.

The SAI 20 Engagement Group of G20 nations recognizes the crucial role of Supreme Audit Institutions in fortifying governance, a statement said on Tuesday.

The SAI 20 Engagement Group under CAG of India aims to bring together an ecosystem wherein SAIs are active partners in governance, promoting transparency and accountability.

Girish Chandra Murmu, CAG of India firmly believes that the SAI20 collaboration initiative would continue to strengthen governance by fostering cooperation and coordination among member countries in supporting key global issues of economic growth and stability, trade, and sustainable development, thereby leading to effective policy-making and implementation in G 20 countries, it added.

Under the guiding philosophy for India’s Presidency of G20, Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam, which sees the world as “One Earth, One Family, and One Future”, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of India is proposing collaboration of G20 SAIs on two priority areas of Blue Economy and Responsible Artificial Intelligence, the statement stated.

A formal handing over ceremony of the presidency of SAI20 from SAI Indonesia to SAI India was held virtually on January 31, it added.

Secretary General, SAI Indonesia Bahtiar Arif formally handed over the presidency of SAI20 to Parveen Mehta, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Deputy CAG) who represented SAI India in the meeting, it said.

Deputy CAG outlined that the theme Blue Economy has been chosen to promote the sustainable use of marine and freshwater environments, produces food and energy, supports livelihoods, and drives economic advancement and welfare, is expected to take forward the concept of “LiFE” or “Lifestyle for Environment” introduced by India in the COP26 Glasgow summit. “LiFE” emphasizes mindful and purposeful utilization rather than mindless and wasteful consumption to sustain and revitalize marine and freshwater environments, it said.

The C&AG of India aims to formulate widely applicable auditing guidelines that will enable SAIs to evaluate and assess, within their respective mandates, the development and implementation of policies and programs that balance sustainability with economic progress and welfare, it added.

Deputy CAG informed the gathering that CAG of India plans to enrich the discourse of SAI20 by inviting SAIs of Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE as guest countries and Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) Chair, International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Secretariat, World Bank and IMF as invited International Organizations, the statement said.