Strengthening strategic analysis capacity in anti-money laundering

From November 24-28 in Hanoi, the Anti-Money Laundering Department (AMLD) of the State Bank of Vietnam in collaboration with the Australian Financial Intelligence Unit (AUSTRAC) organized the “Strategic Writing and Assessment Course”. This activity is part of the series of technical assistance that AUSTRAC provides to Vietnam in the field of anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and financial crime, aiming to enhance the capacity of FIU Vietnam and relevant agencies.

Experts and students attending the course “Strategic assessment and reporting”

The course was organized directly with the participation of AUSTRAC experts, MAP-TNC program representatives, PCRT Department officers and related ministries and branches. The training content focused on assessment methods, analysis and strategic report development, key skills to improve the effectiveness of financial intelligence and serve policy making in the field of anti-money laundering (PCRT).

Speaking at the opening of the course, Mr. Pham Gia Bao - Deputy Director of the SBV Anti-Money Laundering Department emphasized that the event is of special importance, especially in the context that Vietnam is making efforts to implement 17 actions according to the Action Plan designated by FATF, after being included in the Grey List from June 2023. Accordingly, Action 10 is on enhancing the quantity and quality of financial intelligence information (both operational and strategic, in which strategic analysis is assessed as needing improvement). This poses an urgent requirement for the Anti-Money Laundering Department - FIU Vietnam in improving the capacity of strategic analysis for Anti-Money Laundering Department officers, improving risk assessment skills, and enhancing coordination and information sharing with domestic agencies as well as international partners.

Mr. Pham Gia Bao - Deputy Director of the Department of Traffic Safety delivered the opening speech

This AUSTRAC course is a meaningful collaborative activity, contributing to the enhancement of Vietnam’s strategic analysis, assessment and reporting capacity in the field of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT), and demonstrating the shared commitment of AUSTRAC and FIU Vietnam to develop practical skills and enhance professional capacity in the field of financial analysis and intelligence. In addition, the strategic analysis activity aims to serve the underlying patterns and trends from which conclusions on strategic anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures are drawn, and to provide input for policy formulation and operational priorities.

With the experience of AUSTRAC experts, the Deputy Director of the Department of Criminal Investigation believes that this course will provide useful tools and knowledge to help improve the skills of building strategic analysis reports not only for the officers of the Department of Criminal Investigation but also for officers of Vietnamese law enforcement agencies. This is also a good opportunity for us to exchange experiences, learn from each other and strengthen sustainable cooperation between agencies in the region.

Acting Deputy Ambassador Cecilia Brennan shares at the Course

Representing Australia, Acting Deputy Ambassador Cecilia Brennan highly appreciated the efforts of the State Bank of Vietnam and the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Department in enhancing the capacity to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and affirmed that the cooperation between AUSTRAC and FIU Vietnam is a testament to the increasingly deep strategic partnership between the two countries.

The training course on assessment skills and writing strategic analysis reports is an important activity in the cooperation between Australia and Vietnam. Over the past seven decades, the two countries have built a strong partnership towards a peaceful , stable and prosperous Mekong region. Australia is proud to support Vietnam through the Mekong Partnership Program (MAP), with a total resource of 222.5 million dollars in the period 2024-2029. In which, the MAP TNC component brings together many leading experts of the Australian Government in the fields of financial intelligence, law enforcement and policy planning.

"Improving strategic analysis capacity is an important factor in helping Vietnam meet international requirements, especially in the process of implementing actions according to FATF recommendations. AUSTRAC is committed to continuing to support Vietnam through in-depth training courses, sharing experiences and expanding cooperation in the field of financial intelligence," Ms. Cecilia Brennan emphasized.

The course also had the participation of AUSTRAC experts, the Department of PCRT and officers from relevant ministries and branches.

The course “Strategic Assessment and Reporting” marks an important step forward in the cooperation between FIU Vietnam and AUSTRAC. The leaders of the PCT Department expect that the acquired knowledge will be widely applied in practice, contributing to improving the quality of strategic analysis across the system. In particular, the continuous support from AUSTRAC not only helps improve professional skills but also contributes to strengthening the cooperation network between Vietnam and international partners in the field of PCT/TTKB – a key factor in the context of increasingly sophisticated and cross-border financial crimes.

Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/tang-cuong-nang-luc-phan-tich-chien-luoc-trong-phong-chong-rua-tien-174043.html