INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY DR.
KHETAN SHUKLA, CHARGE D'AFFAIRS (a.i.), EMBASSY OF INDIA, AS CHIEF GUEST FOR
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 5TH INDO-BHUTAN AUDIT TRAINING ON "AUDITING IN
AN IT ENVIRONMENT".
Time: 9.30 AM; Date: 20 June 2005; Venue: BCCI
Hall.
Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, Auditor General of
Bhutan, Shri V. Ravindran, Accountant General, Kerala, Shri N. K. Sah,
Deputy Director from C&AG's Office, New Delhi and Mr. Tshering Kezang,
Assistant Auditor General, ladies and gentlemen.
It is my privilege and honour to inaugurate
the Seminar "Auditing in IT Environment". India is deeply committed to
Bhutan's economic development. The India-Bhutan Audit trainings have their
roots in MoU signed in December 2001. As of date, 6 graduates have
successfully completed the Indian Audit and Accounts Service Course in
Shimla and two are under training. In May/June 2005, 17 officials have
completed the "Performance Audit Course" from Office of the Accountant
General of Haryana. It is a matter of great satisfaction that 4 audit
courses have been completed and today we are here for the inauguration of
5th Course on Auditing in IT Environment.
The audit institution of a country, and the
auditors, play a very important role in ensuring the proper and accountable
functioning of the government. They contribute to good governance by
ensuring transparency and implementation of rules and procedures in public
finance. Proper audit of accounts ensures regularity, propriety, and value
for money in public spending, by following the principle of 3Es- Economy,
Efficiency and Effectiveness. Audit reports form an important element of the
monitoring and corrective mechanism in any government.
The Royal Audit Authority has over the years
established itself as an efficient and professional institution. The work of
the Royal Audit Authority has been lauded by the National Assembly of Bhutan
and the general public. The auditors have also helped to streamline the
accounting and financial aspects of Government of India aided projects in
Bhutan. The Royal Audit Authority has also introduced the exemplary practice
of its own external audit through a Chartered Accountant. Bhutan has a long
association with the Indian Audit & Accounts Staff College in Shimla, where
Lyonpo Dago Tshering, Ambassador of Bhutan to India, was the first to attend
a course in 1964-65.
The internet IT revolution started in Bhutan
with the introduction of internet in 1999 coinciding with the Silver Jubilee
celebration of His Majesty's 25 years of glorious reign in the country,
which truly ushered Bhutan into the information age.
With the establishment of multipurpose
telecentre in 10 Dzongkhags, the general public can have access to the
internet and communication facilities. Local farmers, students, teachers,
businessmen/women and government employees will greatly benefit in their
daily activities from the vast information resource and communication
versatility of the internet.
The establishment of Government of India
Intranet Fibre Optic Work will facilitate e-governance, e-clearing,
e-commerce and overall ICT development.I am sure with this course, the
participants would get better understanding of the IT and its applications
in auditing. The 21st Century is a century of IT and bio-technology. As you
all may be aware that in 2000 because of Y2K problem, there was a panic
globally and IT is now prevalent to all walks of life.
Bhutan will be a step closer to becoming a
member of global village en-route to rapid progress to modernization with
deep roots in tradition.
I take this opportunity to thank Dasho Kunzang
Wangdi for inviting me for inaugurating this important Seminar and I hope
the cooperation between our two audit institutions would continue to
flourish in the times to come.
I wish the training programme all success.
Thank you and Tashi Delek.
