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G7 members absent at first-ever SAI20 Summit
Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin expressed hope that the next Group of Twenty presidency would fare better in fostering global cooperation after seven countries played truant at this week’s Supreme Audit Institutions 20 (SAI20) Summit hosted by Indonesia in Bali.
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Vice President Ma'ruf Amin speaks at the Supreme Audit Institutions 20 (SAI20) Summit in Bali on Aug. 29. (SAI20 Committee/SAI20 Committee)
The Group of Seven (G7) countries have failed to accept an invitation from Indonesia to participate in a global event on good governance currently being held in Bali.
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States all stayed away without explanation from the Supreme Audit Institutions 20 (SAI20) Summit hosted by Indonesia as chair of the Group of 20 forum.
In a press conference held after the summit’s opening, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin expressed hope that the next G20 presidency would fare better in fostering global cooperation, as best practices from all members were needed “for a better audit system.”
The SAI20 is an engagement forum created by Indonesia under the G20 umbrella that brings together representatives from the supreme audit bodies of the G20 members for a global discussion on public accountability and transparency.
“So, this is just the first step, I think, because not all members have participated. Twelve countries have participated,” Ma’ruf told reporters in Bali.
The European Union, which is a G20 member in its own right, followed the three EU member countries that stayed away from the summit.
When asked for comment, the US Embassy in Jakarta played down the failure of the US General Accounting Office (GAO) to participate in the event. “The SAI20 is one of the many thematic side meetings, but it is not part of the G20 tracks that feed into the summit and leaders’ declaration,” embassy spokesman Michael Quinlan told The Jakarta Post in an email on Monday.
