SAI Fiji became a member of the INTOSAI WGEI Steering Committee to promote the audit of extractive industries in order to stimulate good governance and sustainable development in the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) region.
On 24 April 2018, a five-member WGEI Committee was formed within SAI Fiji. The Committee chaired by the Auditor-General meets every month. One of the key focuses of the Committee is to carry out research, promoting and sharing information on extractive industries in the PASAI region to the INTOSAI WGEI Steering Committee.
It has almost been a year since the establishment of the Committee whereby we have embarked upon a few challenges to build a moderate foundation for audit in the area of extractive industries. For SAI Fiji and few other SAI’s in the PASAI region, audit in the area of extractive industry is indeed a new undertaking considering the limitation of capacity surrounding the matter.
However, SAI Fiji is putting in place efforts and structures to undertake audits in this area by identifying the need to build capacity and knowledge of extractive industries. One of the ways this has been done is through allocation of funds through the budget process for staff to pursue opportunities to embark on trainings, attachments and related activities both locally and overseas.
Furthermore, one of the key achievements of the Committee this year was to design and carry out a survey on extractive industries in the Republic of Fiji using the seven value chain. Based on responses received, the survey design has been improved and submitted to the PASAI Secretariat for circulation to members for completion electronically. We envisage that the survey will provide valuable information on the scale of extractive industries in the PASAI region, the level of audit activity and opportunities for development.
The survey closes on 5th April 2019 following which results will be analyzed by the Committee and shared with the INTOSAI WGEI Steering Committee.
By SAI Fiji