Doha: Representatives of international government bodies and civil society organizations emphasized that combating corruption is a fundamental condition for economic growth and national recovery.
According to Qatar News Agency, the remarks were made during a session on building coalitions to fight corruption and advance reforms in Asia and the Pacific. This session was part of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held in Doha from December 15 to 19.
Yao Deng, legal counsel in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) governance and anti-corruption division, highlighted the severe impact of corruption, particularly on small businesses. She noted that corruption undermines domestic revenue mobilization, distorts public spending, and weakens institutions, ultimately limiting economic growth.
Deng explained that the IMF adopted a governance framework in 2018 to guide its efforts across three pillars: economic surveillance, lending, and preventive development. This framework laid the foundation for a preventive governance diagnostic tool, which assesses vulnerabilities and provides prioritized recommendations. So far, the IMF has completed 25 governance diagnostics worldwide, focusing mainly on African countries, and has published 17 reports.
The governance diagnostics analyze weaknesses across six government functions: public financial management, central bank governance, financial sector oversight, market regulation, rule of law, and anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing. Deng emphasized the need for strong national ownership and cooperation with local authorities during this process, which typically takes no less than four months.
Deng highlighted case studies such as Sri Lanka, which in 2023 completed Asia's first comprehensive governance diagnostic under an IMF-supported program. The study indicated that integrated governance reforms could boost GDP by more than 7 percent, linking governance improvements directly to economic recovery. Reforms included passing an anti-corruption law, activating an anti-corruption fund, publishing asset declarations, and adopting asset recovery legislation.
She also cited Zambia and Ghana as examples of countries implementing governance diagnostics and reforms. In Ghana, institutional reforms included stronger legal frameworks for anti-corruption, conflict-of-interest declarations, whistleblower protections, and criminal case management.
Chethiya Goonesekera, Sri Lanka's President's Counsel and Commissioner of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, stated that Sri Lanka was the first Asian country selected for an IMF governance diagnostic under a $3 billion extended facility program. The diagnostic aimed to identify weaknesses in combating corruption, strengthen governance systems, and support economic recovery and financial stability.
Goonesekera noted that Sri Lanka's economic crisis in 2022 revealed deep imbalances, with inflation reaching about 70 percent, foreign reserves falling to nearly $20 million, and public debt rising to 128 percent of GDP. The IMF identified weak governance and structural corruption as key factors exacerbating the crisis.
He confirmed that the government has already initiated significant governance reforms, such as updating the 2006 procurement law, adopting a national e-procurement system, and mandating conflict-of-interest declarations. These steps are aimed at fostering a more transparent and stable state, reinforcing public and international confidence in Sri Lanka's economy.
Meanwhile, Josepine Pitmur of Papua New Guinea's DJAG organization discussed an institutional action plan to combat corruption. She described it as a program tailored for agencies that emphasizes awareness and independent oversight of project implementation. Pitmur noted government measures that have built trust and strengthened cooperation between state and non-state actors, proposing the creation of a financial aid oversight unit in 2025 to enhance transparency.