HEADLINES

BPK’s Appointment Process as the IAEA External Auditor of 2016-2017

The 59th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, assigned the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK), on behalf of the Indonesian government, as the external auditor of the IAEA for the period of 2016 – 2017. The BPK was elected by the consensus, after the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of India, Comptroller Auditor General of India, and the SAI of the Philippines, Commission on Audit of the Philippines, withdrew their candidacies.

The IAEA is an independent organization established on July 29, 1957 aiming at promoting a peaceful use while avoiding the military use of the nuclear energy. The IAEA functions as an inter-governmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation of the peaceful use of the nuclear energy in the world. The IAEA Headquarter is located in Vienna, Austria and has 164 countries as its members.

The BPK’s achievement as the IAEA external auditor cannot be separated from the synergy between the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI)/Indonesian Permanent Mission (PTRI) in Vienna, and the BPK. This candidacy is based on the information provided by the KBRI/PTRI in Vienna in relation with the opportunity to become the IAEA external auditor in 2016 – 2017 on January 29, 2015.

Following the information, the BPK decided to propose to the IAEA to be its external auditor. The BPK’s Vice Chairman, Drs. Sapto Amal Damandari, CA., Ak. accompanied with the Secretary General, Hendar Ristriawan and the Head of Research and Development Directorate, B. Dwita Pradana, delivered the proposal on February 3, 2015. It was coincided with the 2nd Joint Symposium of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) – United Nations (UN) in Vienna, Austria. The similar proposal were also handed by the SAIs of India and the Philippines.

To collect supports from the IAEA member countries, the Chairman of the BPK, Dr. Harry Azhar Azis, M.A., together with the Indonesian Ambassador/Permanent Mission in Vienna, Rachmat Budiman, gave a presentation about the BPK in a luncheon on June 25, 2015 in Vienna, Austria. In this occasion, the Chairman was also accompanied by the Principal Auditor II, Slamet Kurniawan.

Further, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the KBRI/PTRI in Vienna, intensively approached, collected supports, as well as coordinated with the BPK. Later on, BPK’s delegates headed by the Board Member Prof. Dr. Bahrullah Akbar, MBA., assisted with the Head of Principal Directorate of Planning, Evaluation and Development, Bahtiar Arif, the Head of Strategic Planning Sub Directorate, Felicia Yudhaningtyas and the Head of Multilateral Cooperation Sub Division, Ade Indra Gumilar, were assigned to attend the 59th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria, to specifically succeed the BPK’s IAEA external auditor candidacy.

After all efforts, the SAIs of India and the Philippines withdrew their candidacies following the opening of the conference. Eventually, on September 17, 2015, the President of the 59th IAEA General Conference, Filipo Formica, who also acted as the Ambassador/Permanent Mission of Italy in the UN, assigned the BPK with the consensus to be the external auditor of 2016 – 2017. For this appointment, the head of BPK’s delegates, Prof. Dr. Bahrullah Akbar, MBA. thanked the IAEA General Conference for its trust in Indonesia and the BPK and committed to continuously promote transparency and accountability of the IAEA financial management according to the applied standard.

The BPK’s assignment to act as the external auditor of an international organization under the UN is the first milestone for the BPK. Formerly, the BPK has participated several times in a team as part of the SAI of France, Cour de Comptes, which acted as the UN external auditor. This opportunity is therefore hoped to professionally improve BPK’s capacity and its auditor, especially in international organizations. Thus, it is also expected to increase BPK’s credibility and people’s trust.

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