Organizers of the Sharjah Prize for Public Finance, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, launched the third edition of this major event, highlighting the importance of continuing to improve public finance management methods, promote transparency in the management of public procurement and strengthen governance in this key sector.
This morning, the Arab Organization for Administrative Development (OADA), created in 1961 under the aegis of the Arab League, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Government of Sharjah, inaugurated this third edition of the prize after having organized the second edition the previous year in Morocco.
Sonia Hamamouch, deputy to the director of the Institute of Finance and assistant to the director of administrative and public affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, highlighted the considerable efforts made to improve the skills of human resources. “ The launch of this third edition illustrates the organization’s initiatives to strengthen training in public finance management, thus enabling human resources to accomplish their missions more efficiently.“, she clarified.
She also recalled that the Arab Organization, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, had organized in January 2024 a seminar dedicated to the issue of gender in the development of public finances, a topical area of great importance. She then mentioned the victory of the Ministry of Economy and Finance during the previous edition, in 2023, in the category of institutional winners. “ This demonstrates the sustained efforts of the Ministry to implement proactive management, aimed at achieving strategic objectives and ensuring efficient management of public finances.“added Hamamouch.
As part of the reforms put in place, she highlighted the progress made in the public procurement sector, which is no longer just a means of acquiring the necessary resources, but has become an engine of development. “ Public procurement now supports innovation, competition, national businesses, job creation and the improvement of public infrastructure and services“, she insisted. “ The transparent approach adopted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance is essential for the implementation of these reforms“, she clarified.
The management of public finances, she continued, has experienced a decisive turning point in recent years, notably with the adoption of the decree on public procurement in 2023. “ The simplification of procedures and their digitalization through the introduction of electronic signature have increased transparency and opened up new opportunities for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises“, she said.
For his part, Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani, Director General of OADA, recalled that this award was not a first for Morocco. “ We are back for the second time in the Moroccan capital and, for the third time, on a regional scale“, he said, highlighting the importance of this award, which is one of the first in the Arab world to focus on the effective management of public finances. He underlined the great receptivity of Moroccan and Arab institutions to this initiative, and specified that “ the award is a unique opportunity for governments to share their experiences and successes in public financial management« .
Al Qahtani clarified that the objectives of this award are to promote the exchange of experiences and recognize exceptional efforts in this field. “ It is important to highlight those who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to financial governance“, he explained.
The award is divided into 22 categories, including 11 institutional and 11 external, with three levels of awards for each category, including cash prizes.
Finally, Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, secretary general of the Sharjah Prize for Public Finance, recalled the originality of this prize in the Arab world, specifying that it is “ a real engine of financial governance“. He added that the objective of these awards is to encourage research and academic work on financial governance within public institutions, in perfect harmony with the objectives of the Sharjah government, aimed at developing human skills to foster the sustainable development and the elevation of societies.
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