Hyderabad, August 4: The two day 2nd BRICS Anti Corruption Working Group (ACWG) Meeting commenced in Hyderabad on Tuesday, bringing together senior officials and experts from BRICS member countries to strengthen international cooperation in combating corruption, tracing fugitive offenders and recovering illicit assets.
The meeting, being held on August 4 and 5, also includes the 2nd Meeting of the BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery. The programme focuses on enhancing practical cooperation among BRICS nations through stronger law enforcement coordination, technology driven governance and improved mechanisms for asset recovery.
Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, Rachna Shah, inaugurated the meeting and said corruption remains one of the biggest obstacles to sustainable and inclusive development. She noted that corruption diverts scarce public resources away from hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure while eroding public trust in institutions.
She stressed that no country is immune to corruption and no country can overcome it alone, calling for collective, coordinated and sustained international cooperation to curb illicit financial flows, safeguard public resources and strengthen the global anti corruption framework.
Rachna Shah said the Hyderabad meeting comes at a time when integrity, accountability, innovation and international cooperation have become increasingly important. She urged BRICS nations to translate their shared commitment to combating cross border corruption into practical cooperation and measurable outcomes.
Highlighting the growing challenge posed by fugitive economic offenders, she said no jurisdiction should become a safe haven for those who profit from corruption. She called on BRICS nations to strengthen cooperation in tracing fugitives, supporting extradition requests, recovering stolen assets and closing legal loopholes that facilitate the cross border movement of offenders and illicit funds.
She welcomed the progress made on the BRICS Repository on Informal Cooperation for Tracing Fugitive Offenders Sought for Corruption and Supporting Extradition. She also appreciated discussions on establishing a BRICS Network of Law Enforcement Practitioners to improve cooperation in tracing offenders and facilitating extradition among member countries.
The Secretary further welcomed the operationalisation of the BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery, saying that a standardised information sharing template and directory of enforcement agencies would enable faster, more direct and effective cooperation among law enforcement authorities.
Emphasising preventive vigilance, Rachna Shah said technology has become an essential tool in addressing evolving corruption risks. She highlighted India’s technology driven governance reforms, including digital identity, electronic service delivery, digital payments, transparent public procurement systems, faceless and paperless taxation, technology enabled vigilance, data driven monitoring and stronger grievance redressal mechanisms.
She cited the Government e Marketplace (GeM) and the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme as successful examples of technology driven reforms that have reduced leakages, enhanced transparency and strengthened accountability in public service delivery.
The two day programme includes detailed deliberations on the BRICS Repository on Informal Cooperation for Tracing Fugitive Offenders, the proposed BRICS Network of Law Enforcement Practitioners, and the 2nd Meeting of the BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery.
Delegates will also participate in a special side event on Ethical Governance Through Innovation and Tech Driven Systems, where member countries will exchange best practices on preventive vigilance, digital governance and technology enabled oversight.
Another important session will examine the emerging risks posed by Financial Technology (FinTech) and Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) and discuss strategies to prevent their misuse in concealing and laundering the proceeds of corruption.
BRICS Chair Highlights Practical Cooperation
Earlier, BRICS ACWG Chair J. Ashok Kumar welcomed the participating delegations and thanked member countries for their continued engagement and constructive contributions.
He said the progress achieved in recent months reflects the value of sustained dialogue and the shared commitment of BRICS countries to strengthening anti corruption cooperation. He added that this year’s work has focused on developing practical tools and operational mechanisms that enhance cooperation among BRICS nations while avoiding duplication of existing international frameworks.
The meeting will conclude on August 5 after extensive discussions on cross border investigations, extradition, asset recovery, technology driven governance and collaborative strategies to combat emerging corruption risks.
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