Sharjah 24: On October 7th and 8th, 2024, under the patronage of Her Excellency Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia, Minister of Finance of Tunisia, and in cooperation with the Arab Administrative Development Organisation (ARADO), the Sharjah Award for Public Finance (SAPF) organised an introductory seminar and accompanying training workshops.
The event was attended by several key figures Dr. Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani, Director General of the Arab Administrative Development Organization and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees; by Waleed Al Sayegh, Director General of Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) and Member of the Board of Trustees; Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of SFD and Secretary General of the Award; Dr. Azzam Hussein Armili, Advisor to the ARADO and Member of the Board of Trustee and Hassan Basha, Award Advisor, as well as other esteemed experts in the fields of public finance and excellence in governance.
The Role of Awards in Motivating Financial Communities
The seminar opened with a welcoming speech by His Excellency Zouheir Attallah, Head of the Ministry of Finance in Tunisia, who highlighted the significance of the seminar in underscoring Tunisia's pivotal role in hosting the event, as well as its contribution to the first cycle of the award. He emphasized how such awards play a crucial role in motivating the financial community to improve performance, innovate new methods to overcome challenges, and address the scarcity of financial resources.
Attallah urged participants to engage actively with the Award, aiming to achieve excellence in public finance. He also expressed his deep gratitude to the Sharjah Award and ARADO for their efforts in organising the event, anticipating further cooperation and the exchange of experiences between Tunisia's Ministry of Finance and other winning institutions in the coming phases.
Supporting Excellence and Encouraging Innovation
Dr. Nasser Al-Qahtani, Director General of ARADO, emphasised the organisation's critical role in addressing key issues like digital transformation and sustainable development. He commended Tunisia’s Ministry of Finance for hosting the event and reaffirmed the importance of awards in recognising excellence and encouraging innovation in financial practices. He expressed his sincere appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his unwavering support of the Award, and acknowledged the essential role of teamwork and coordination between the organisation and the Award in expanding future seminars across Arab countries to foster a culture of financial transparency.
Promoting Innovative Financial Practices and Strengthening Arab Cooperation
Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah's Finance Department and Secretary-General of the Award, emphasised that the comprehensive seminar highlights the importance of strengthening Arab cooperation in financial management. He stated that the Sharjah Award for Public Finance is committed to innovation and transparency as key drivers for sustainable economic growth, and serves as a tool to promote new and innovative financial practices across Arab nations. Al Qasimi also pointed out that Tunisia’s selection as the host country reflects its leading role in enhancing Arab financial cooperation.
Comprehensive Overview of the Sharjah Award for Public Finance
The seminar featured a detailed presentation by Dr. Azzam Al-Rmaili, Advisor to ARADO and Board Member of the Award, who outlined the objectives, criteria, and targeted categories of the Sharjah Award for Public Finance. The presentation also highlighted participation conditions and allowed participants to ask questions about the application process, further clarifying the criteria for submitting nominations effectively.
Public Accounting Standards and Their Role in Enhancing Financial Transparency
The event also included a series of specialised training workshops. These workshops, led by top experts in public financial management, focused on enhancing the skills of financial sector professionals. Notably, Noura Dqi, Secretary-General of the National Accounting Standards Council, and Zahra Ben Brahim, Director at the General Secretariat, discussed the role of public accounting standards in enhancing financial transparency and aligning them with ongoing financial reforms in Tunisia.
On the second day of the seminar, Badri Dgbi, Director at the General Secretariat of the National Accounting Standards Council, delivered a comprehensive presentation on Tunisian public accounting standards. Following this, a training session led by Amna Mabrouk focused on the new roles in implementing state accounting standards for public sector actors. The seminar concluded with practical insights on the adoption of these standards from Jihan Souih and Rehab Aloui, further deepening participants' understanding of how to apply these standards in their respective sectors.
Participants expressed their deep appreciation for the topics covered and the rich discussions held during the seminar and accompanying workshops, emphasising how these events provide crucial support in advancing financial systems across the region and contribute to enhancing efficiency and innovation in public financial management.
Expansion of the Award's Categories to 22
The latest edition of the Sharjah Award for Public Finance has expanded its scope to include 22 categories, comprising 11 institutional and 11 individual categories. This expansion reflects the Award’s commitment to promoting excellence and recognising achievements in the financial sector across the Arab world.
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