Successful Global Conference conducted in Buenos Aires

“From commitment to Action – Application of Integrity in Practice” was the Conference's priority theme. In total about 180 representatives of private and public sector, as well as civil society and academia gathered to discuss business integrity on a global level. Another 200 followed online via live stream. The event, held as a B20 Anti-Corruption Forum was a big success with fruitful discussions.

The Conference was inaugurated by Noor Naqschbandi, Director, Alliance for Integrity, followed by Andrés Peña, Undersecretary of Institutional Productive Development, Ministry of Production Argentina who highlighted the importance of tackling corruption jointly. Further speakers in the opening ceremony were Stormy-Annika Mildner, Sherpa, B20 Germany / Head of Department External Economic Policy, Federation of German Industries (BDI); Laura Alonso, Secretary of Public Ethics, Transparency and Combat Corruption, Argentina. Her organisation also supported the event by a joint workshop on anti-corruption legislation. Further, José Ignacio Salafranca, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Argentina and Bernhard Graf von Waldersee, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Argentina.

In the following panel discussion on “Implementing Integrity into Practice: Businesses take Action”, the participants Anny Tubbs, Chief Business Integrity Officer, Unilever Legal Group / Co-Chair B20 Responsible Business Conduct & Anti-Corruption Cross-thematic Group; Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Corp Governance, Compliance & Collective Action, Basel Institute on Governance; Sergio Juan Abreu, Regional Compliance Officer Latinamerica, Merck KGaA; Silvina Coria, Global Head Risk & Compliance, OLX; and Victoria Giulietti, Head of Legal and Social Policy Department, Unión Industrial Argentina debated with moderator Beatriz Martins Carneiro, Brazilian Global Compact Network how companies can take action when wanting to ensure integrity in day-to-day business. Anny Tubbs emphasised that in order to set the right example, "you have to practice what you teach."

The afternoon started with three lively breakout sessions on the following topics:

• Anti-Corruption Laws, Global and Regional Implementation Trends and Developments, organised in cooperation with the Oficina Anticorrupción Argentina
• Implementing a Compliance Culture in Companies – How to Reach to the Individual?
• Building Compliance Capacities and Promoting Integrity: The “De Empresas para Empresas” (DEPE) Approach
  

After presenting the results of the group sessions to the other participants, the panel on “More Compliance = Economic Growth!? Transparency as a Business Advantage and an Incentive for Foreign Investment” gathered Benito Reinier Renfurm, Joint General Manager, Hamburg Süd Sucursal. Argentina / Vice-president AHK Argentina; Carsten Schmitz-Hoffmann, Head of the Department for Economic and Social Development, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH; Guillermo Dietrich, Minister of Transport, Argentina; Néstor Abatidaga, CEO, Grupo Sancor Seguros; Nicola Bonucci, Director for Legal Affairs, OECD; and Pedro Rodrigues De Almeida, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum. They discussed how compliance and transparency can be incentives for foreign investment and hence lead to greater economic development. Nicola Bonucci stated in the discussion that "Corruption in customs is a key issue." Whereas Carsten Schmitz-Hoffmann highlighted the need of multistakeholder partnerships in order to tackle corruption.

The event was concluded by Reynaldo Goto, Chair of the Advisory Group of the Alliance for Integrity in Brazil / Compliance Director, Siemens Brazil, stating that "We have a common enemy: corruption, but we also have a common dream: a better world" and Mauricio Alice, Minister, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Worship Argentina/ Sous Sherpa G20 and Director UNG20. At the end of the event, Mr. Naqschbandi thanked all partners in the region and on the global level for their support.