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In recent years, countries in Asia and the Pacific region became more aware of the adverse impact of corruption on their society, political stability and economic growth. Twenty-five countries of the region have committed to take firm actions against corruption. In the framework of the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative, they developed the Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia and the Pacific and are taking various steps to implement the Action Plan.
The Action Plan encompasses three pillars as follows:
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Developing effective and transparent systems for public service |
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Strengthening Anti-Bribery Actions and Promoting Integrity in Business Operations |
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Supporting Active Public Involvement |
The above is a joint initiative by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Its Secretariat supports the countries' efforts to build up effective and sustainable anti-corruption mechanisms through fostering policy dialogue, policy analysis, capacity building and donor coordination, and by providing an extensive online database on the region's fight against corruption.
The Initiative emerged from a workshop on 'Combating Corruption in the Asian and Pacific Economies' organized in 1999 by ADB and OECD. A year later, the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific was launched at a conference held in Seoul, South Korea.
Review of progress made in implementing the Action Plan in each country is based on self-assessment reports prepared by endorsing countries. This review exercise takes place in the framework of regular meetings of the Steering Group. The Steering Group is in charge of identifying and analyzing a number of issues of specific, region-wide importance where the exchange of experience and close collaboration between countries are considered particularly beneficial.
The Steering Group is composed of representatives from each endorsing country of the region. Currently, there are 25 member countries in the Steering Group. Singapore, being one of the member countries, is represented by Director, Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. |