30 March 2005 – Ambassador Victor G. Garcia III, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Vienna, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Asian Group (Vienna Chapter) has unanimously endorsed the candidature of Philippine Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Guillermo M. Carague for the post of External Auditor of the UNIDO.

In formally presenting the Philippine candidature, Ambassador Garcia underscored Chairman Carague’s excellent qualifications while noting that no Asian country had ever held the position of UNIDO External Auditor since UNIDO became a UN specialized agency in 1986.

“The Asian Group found Chairman Carague to be eminently qualified for the position, having taken due consideration of his distinguished career in the field of accountancy and auditing,” Ambassador Garcia said. Among those Governments that spoke in support of the Philippine Candidature were China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Chairman Carague was Philippine Secretary of Budget and Management (1986 to 1992). He chairs the three-man United Nations Board of Auditors and the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institution (ASOSAI). He is an acknowledged figure in the accounting profession not just in the Philippines but also abroad.

Shortly after receiving the Asian Group’s unanimous endorsement, Ambassador Garcia conveyed the Philippine Government’s profound appreciation to the Group’s members for their demonstration of confidence.

Elections will be held during the 11th General Conference of UNIDO, scheduled on 28 November to 2 December 2005, in Vienna, Austria. Aside from the Philippines, three other countries, namely Sweden, Spain and South Africa, have also presented their respective candidatures. END
 

/jay