The International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) and the Republic of Kazakhstan today welcomed more than 250 delegates from all regions of the world to Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, for the eighth session of IACA’s Assembly of Parties.

The delegates, representing more than 55 national and institutional delegations and including government ministers, will use the three-day meeting to discuss IACA’s overall objectives and strategy.

Prominent agenda items include fundraising activities for the Academy, the implementation of its current Work Programme and a new strategy for the Academy. The meeting also includes a panel discussion featuring participants from some of IACA’s many anti-corruption programmes.

The session was opened by H.E. Mr. Zurab Abashidze, Ambassador of Georgia to Kazakhstan, who delivered the speech on behalf of the outgoing President of the Assembly, H.E. Mr. Gocha Lordkipanidze, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia.

“It has been an honour to serve IACA over the past year and contribute to the cause of anti-corruption through my work here. I hope this session will further strengthen the organization and its important work,” H.E. Mr. Lordkipanidze wrote in his address.

In her remarks, Ms. Christiane Pohn-Hufnagl, Officer-in-Charge of IACA, urged the delegations to increase their support for the Academy and find new and innovative ways to ensure that IACA can continue and further develop its important work in the field of anti-corruption education.

“Since its establishment in 2011, IACA has grown significantly in terms of our constituency, our programmes and our reputation as a centre of excellence for providing the highest levels of education in anti-corruption studies. All of this was achieved with extremely limited resources,” she observed.

Mr. Krymbek Kusherbayev, the State Secretary of Kazakhastan, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan welcomed the participants of the Assembly.

In his opening speech, H.E. Mr. Kasym-Zhomart Tokaev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlighted the importance of the unique nature of the Academy. “The symbiosis of theory and practice, an analysis of the best world experience, allows the Academy to prepare the high-rated specialists in the area of prevention of corruption,” wrote His Excellency.

The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Alik Shpekbayev, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Mr. Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Astana Civil Service Hub.