Saudi Arabia Participates in G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting in Brazil
Natal, October 24, 2024 — Saudi Arabia actively participated in the third anti-corruption ministerial meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20), which took place on Thursday in Natal, Brazil. The Kingdom was represented by Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous, President of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha).
In his speech, Al-Kahmous expressed gratitude to Brazil for hosting the significant event, commending the achievements of G20 nations under Brazil’s leadership. He congratulated Brazil on the uncontested selection of its representative as deputy chairman of the GlobE Network Steering Committee, a position solidified during a meeting in Beijing in September.
Al-Kahmous highlighted the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership in the fight against corruption since the launch of Vision 2030. He emphasized the development of the national anti-corruption strategy and the Kingdom's proactive steps in fostering international partnerships to combat cross-border corruption.
The Nazaha president underscored the crucial role of G20 countries in creating a just world and promoting a sustainable planet, particularly noting the establishment of the GlobE Network, which comprises 222 authorities from 123 countries, including 15 G20 states. He praised the network for enhancing international cooperation, facilitating asset recovery, and improving information exchange among anti-corruption agencies.
Looking ahead, Al-Kahmous expressed hope for continued commitment from G20 nations to advance the work of the network, particularly in line with previous G20 agreements and decisions from the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (CoSP).
He introduced a global initiative aimed at measuring corruption, designed to aid countries, investors, and stakeholders in evaluating anti-corruption efforts. Al-Kahmous anticipated that reliable and transparent indicators would emerge by the conclusion of the initiative's second phase, respecting the diverse political and legal systems of various nations.
Al-Kahmous called upon G20 countries to support the United Nations Development Program in measuring corruption through the exchange of information and best practices to achieve sustainable development goals.
The meeting involved discussions on collaboration to enforce anti-corruption laws, accountability, transparency, and asset recovery, adhering to relevant international agreements.
The G20 Ministerial Declaration endorsed a new anti-corruption action plan for 2025-2027, which aims to bolster efforts against money laundering and enhance transparency regarding beneficial ownership, aligned with recommendations from the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Additionally, the declaration ratified several documents produced by the G20 anti-corruption working group under Brazil’s presidency, including high-level principles for private-sector integrity measures to prevent and combat corruption. It also included the accountability report on combating corruption among G20 countries for 2024.
Notably, the first G20 anti-corruption ministerial meeting was initiated by Saudi Arabia during its presidency in 2020, aimed at enhancing political commitment and cooperation among member countries in the fight against corruption.
