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Agenda and Session Outlines

Full Agenda

Session I

Session II

Session III

Session IV

Session V

Background

In 2018 UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub has launched a regional project FairBiz – Promoting a Fair Business Environment in ASEAN to improve business integrity and transparency in public procurement. With the generous support of the UK Government ASEAN Economic Reform Program, the initiative partnered with governments, the private sector, and civil society in seven countries: Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar[1], the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam focusing on four areas of intervention:

1. Encourage partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as civil society and development partners at the regional level, to implement and monitor integrity policies in ASEAN

2. Improve transparency in government contracts and increase compliance with international procurement and trade standards

3. Promote business integrity and sustainable practices for private companies and state-owned enterprises

4. Strengthen anti-corruption strategies, policies and laws and improve redress mechanisms for companies, investors and the broader public.

In these past four years, FairBiz has demonstrated how sustained efforts to fight corruption can bring tangible benefits. For example, preventive anti-corruption measures were achieved in four countries: anti-corruption strategy adopted in Malaysia, corruption prevention indicators updated in Thailand, and anti-corruption law updated in Vietnam. During the project’s lifetime, over 4000 stakeholders in ASEAN were engaged in supporting the adoption of responsible business practices, including 300 companies and, indirectly, thousands of their employees. The absolute majority (96.83%) of FairBiz participants from the government, private and civil society sectors reported feeling more comfortable engaging in dialogues on integrity and transparency. And when it comes to tangible benefits to societies, Thailand’s government reported $460 million in savings brought about by enhanced scrutiny and accountability in infrastructure procurement, supported by FairBiz and Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (COST).

Objectives of the event:

The regional event aims to achieve three objectives:

1. To take stock of the project’s achievements and lessons learned
2. To ensure sustainability of project interventions and scaling up beyond project duration
3. To showcase innovation that is taking place in different countries with potential for deepening and broadening within countries, and replication in new markets.

The event is organized by UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub through its FairBiz project. The event will bring together government representatives from the region along with private sector leaders and civil society representatives who contributed to the activities of FairBiz. The participants will also include representatives from the UK government, UNDP Country Offices in FairBiz countries, implementing partners and beneficiaries.

[1] Following the coup of 1st February 2021, UNDP, guided by the statements of the UN Secretary General, the SG’s Special Envoy on Myanmar and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNDP put on hold all activities engaging with the Government and the military authorities. FairBiz activities were suspended in Myanmar, in agreement with the FCDO since February 2021.