An anti-bribery standard being introduced in the UAE “will add to the competitiveness of the country”, according to the head of the body that awards it.
Rashid AlHebsi, the chief executive of Tasneef-Riva Business Assurance (Tasneef), said the new standard would also help to increase transparency in the country, making it more attractive to foreign investors
Tasneef awarded the first UAE-issued ISO 37001 certificate for anti-bribery management systems to German car parts maker Bosch at a ceremony on Thursday, with Mr AlHebsi stating that the UAE has been one of the first countries in the region to adopt the standard and to develop methods for testing and inspection following its introduction.
Mr AlHebsi said that the reason for the UAE’s early adoption of the standard was not because “something was wrong” with integrity in the country, but that it ensures business practices are more transparent.
“To fight corruption, we must join forces among all institutions,” he said. “We understand the importance of building a safe environment that aims at enhancing the Arab region economy and we try to play this role.”
He said there were a number of steps that companies need to adopt to attain accreditation, including the creation of a manual with policies and procedures, a clear definition of management roles and responsibilities, the appointment of an internal auditor to supervise implementation and to instigate monitoring processes.
Volker Bischoff, the general manager of Robert Bosch Middle East, said that although his firm “was not new to this issue” of compliance, and took a zero tolerance approach to bribery, the opportunity to have its systems vetted to ensure that they met international standards was appealing.
“There is a neutral and objective body that is looking at our processes,” said Mr Bischoff.
Mr AlHebsi also said that Tasneef has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority to cooperate on the governance of three sets of ISO certifications it administers – the anti-bribery standard, a business continuity standard and one governing corporate social responsibility systems.
Colin Keeney, a director of forensic services at Deloitte, said a look at the list of countries that participated in developing the ISO 37001 anti-bribery standards “shows how seriously the Middle East and North Africa region has begun to take this topic”.
Writing in the company's most recent Middle East Point of View publication, Mr Keeney said: "Representatives of the standards bodies of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia all joined the process – an outsized delegation for the region. "We hope that their involvement signals a heightened commitment to transparency and accountability originating from authorities at the highest levels within Mena governments."
mfahy@thenational.ae
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