Uzbekistan Officially Joins Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific Countries

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has officially become a member of the Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific Countries (ACI).

The accession ceremony took place in Jakarta as part of the 12th regional conference of the organization, held under the slogan “Integrity — a Catalyst for Social Development and Economic Growth.” According to the decision of the ACI governing committee, Uzbekistan became the initiative’s thirty-fifth member.

The Anti-Corruption Initiative was established in 1999 with the support of the Asian Development Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Its primary goal is to strengthen the capacity of regional countries to combat corruption and promote transparency, integrity, and accountability through the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Currently, the initiative includes 34 countries, among them Singapore, Georgia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Vietnam, and Azerbaijan. ACI regularly hosts conferences, seminars, and expert meetings to facilitate the exchange of experience among member states.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director of the Agency for Combating Corruption Umida Tukhtasheva emphasized that Uzbekistan’s accession to ACI will be an important step in implementing international standards into national practice and strengthening cooperation in the fight against corruption. She provided detailed information on judicial and legal reforms, as well as measures to prevent conflicts of interest being carried out in the country.

During the visit, the Uzbek delegation also met with representatives of the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission. The parties agreed to develop and sign an interagency cooperation agreement, which will include measures to prevent corruption in public institutions and educate young people in the spirit of integrity and transparency.