Press Release
USAID Supports Anti-Corruption Conference in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta |
Thursday, February 09, 2006
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Local Governance Support Program (LGSP) is co-sponsoring the anti-corruption conference, “National Conference on Local Government Procurement Integrity, “ with the Indonesia Procurement Watch (IPW), a national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that fights corruption in government. More than 120 participants from NGOs, local governments, donor agencies and other organizations from all over Indonesia came together for the four-day conference to formulate a strategy to prevent and help eradicate corrupt practices in the procurement of goods and services.
Opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Komaruddin Hidayat, Chair, Board of Trustees, IPW, laid the foundation of the conference, which will cover topics ranging from the challenges that face the KPK to the role that donors and media in combating corruption in Indonesia. Other notable attendees at the conference include Mr. Taufiequrachman Ruki, Chair of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), and Mr. William M. Frej, USAID Mission Director in Indonesia
“Combating corruption is critical to the economic development of Indonesia and entry of foreign investment in the country,” said William M. Frej. “The U.S. Government, through USAID, fully supports the President’s anti-corruption drive to create good and clean government.”
USAID supports Indonesia’s Financial Intelligence Unit (PPATK) at Bank of Indonesia and the Supreme Audit Board (BPK) to fight financial crime and strengthen auditing. USAID plans to provide capacity-building assistance to 100 cities and districts and local civil society organizations to improve procurement procedures to minimize corruption, and promote good governance and accountability in delivering basic services. These programs are part of the overall goal to strengthen democratic and decentralized governance, and improve the quality of basic education, basic human services and economic growth.