Amman, April 28 (Petra) – Chairman of the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC) Muhannad Hijazi on Monday announced that the recommendations and outcomes of the Arab Transport Sector Integrity Conference, titled "Risks and Solutions," met the aspirations of the participating countries.

He stated that conference participants adopted the Jordanian initiative, launched in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to establish a specialized regional platform aimed at supporting joint international efforts to promote integrity in the transport sector across the Arab region.

In a statement issued by the JIACC, Hijazi underlined that the initiative aligns with the standards of international anti-corruption agreements to which all participating states are committed. He explained that it will be translated into a voluntary charter, developed collaboratively, to monitor and support adherence to integrity standards in the transport sector, while laying the groundwork for similar initiatives in other sectors.

Hijazi added that several other recommendations from the conference stressed the strategic importance of the land, air, and maritime transport sectors to sustainable development in the Arab region, regardless of differences in income levels or political and economic systems. The sector, he noted, plays a crucial role in enhancing competitiveness, creating job opportunities, supporting agriculture, industry, trade, and innovation, protecting the environment, and advancing climate action, in addition to its direct impact on daily life.

Participants also recommended measures to facilitate access to information related to decision-making and financial management in the transport sector. They called for the establishment of systems that encourage the automatic dissemination of information through digital technologies, emphasized the need for transparency across all types and stages of public contracts, and urged the building of sustainable partnerships between ministries of transport, oversight bodies, anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

In addition, the conference highlighted the importance of developing specialized capacities to audit and investigate corruption practices within the transport sector, enhancing the exchange of information and expertise among oversight and judicial bodies, and creating secure channels for reporting corruption alongside effective whistleblower protection mechanisms.

Participants further stressed the role of the private sector as a vital partner in promoting integrity in the transport sector. They advocated for establishing effective forums for dialogue between the public and private sectors to make governance a shared priority.

Moreover, they called for measures requiring private transport companies to adopt codes of ethical conduct and integrity commitment programs, tied, where possible, to incentive packages for companies demonstrating a strong commitment to transparency, accountability, participation, and the rule of law.

//Petra// AJ

28/04/2025 15:13:54