To promote the principles of enterprise integrity and social responsibility, and to enhance communication between the public and private sectors, the Ministry of Justice was invited to participate in the 2023 “Clean Internal Affairs, Integrity Society: Private Security Industry’s Integrity and Ethical Operations Forum” organized by the National Police Agency (NPA) of the Ministry of the Interior on August 21, 2023. The event aimed to implement anti-corruption measures outlined in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and establish a public-private partnership to combat corruption.

The forum kicked off with opening remarks from Huang Ming-chao, Director-General of the National Police Agency, Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang, and Deputy Minister Wu Jung-hui of the Ministry of the Interior. Subsequently, Deputy Director-General Shen Feng-liang of the Agency Against Corruption (AAC) of the Ministry of Justice, Vice Chairman Yeh Yi-chang of Transparency International Taiwan, and Professor Chang Kuang-ming from Ming Chuan University’s Department of Criminal Justice respectively delivered keynote speeches on the topics “Corporate Integrity and Integrity governance,” “Challenges and Opportunities in Corporate Integrity and Sustainable Operation,” and “Security Work and Safe Communities.” The forum also featured benchmark experiences shared by Wu Cheng-chih, Manager of Taiwan Secom Co., Ltd., and Liu Pei-yu, Chief Human Resources Officer at Taiwan Shin Kong Security Co., Ltd. Following this, Director-General Huang Ming-chao hosted a panel discussion, inviting experts from various sectors to engage in interdisciplinary discussions and exchanges.

Minister Tsai delivered an address emphasizing the efforts made by the AAC, in collaboration with relevant competent authorities, to actively organize forums on enterprise integrity and legal compliance in recent years. These forums aim to establish partnerships between the public and private sectors through cross-domain cooperation. Today’s forum focused on the private security industry, with a particular emphasis on enhancing ethical business practices, legal compliance, and corporate social responsibility. The private security industry plays a pivotal role in assisting law enforcement agencies, including the prosecution, police, investigators, and anti-corruption units, in maintaining social stability. Their long-standing contributions to society and government agencies are commendable. Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, the country autonomously adheres to the requirements set forth in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In 2023, Transparency International released its 2022 “Corruption Perceptions Index” (CPI), ranking Taiwan 25th globally, maintaining the same excellent performance as in 2021. Additionally, Taiwan received favorable scores in other rankings such as the “Bribery Risk Matrix” and “Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index (GDI).” These international assessments highlight the robust progress in Taiwan’s overall anti-corruption efforts and the international recognition of its laudable clean governance. The Ministry of Justice will continue to deepen the partnership between the government and businesses, fostering a clean and competent investment environment. This commitment aims to promote sustainable development for both the nation and businesses while enhancing Taiwan’s positive reputation for clean government and integrity.

During his address, Deputy Minister Deputy Minister Wu Jung-hui of the Ministry of the Interior indicated that in recent years, the prevention of corruption in the private sector has become a cornerstone of integrity governance. The Ministry of the Interior has been actively involved in facilitating a comprehensive understanding of corporate integrity among private enterprises. In 2022, the Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, organized the “Construction Industry Integrity Forum,” focusing on the construction sector. This year, they have continued to hold integrity forums on various topics such as earthquake-resistant disaster prevention in building structures, private security services, disaster-resistant building materials and equipment, among others. These efforts aim to deepen cooperation and communication with the private sector, establishing a robust public-private partnership in the fight against corruption.

Preventing and combating corruption cannot be confined to the government sector alone. It is through combined cross-domain integration and collaboration and the active public participation that anti-corruption efforts can be successful. Building public-private partnerships, encouraging the private sector to embrace integrity governance and legal compliance, and fostering an environment conducive to sustainable business operations are essential steps to enhance both a company’s competitiveness and the nation’s integrity. Ultimately, this approach aims for a win-win situation where Taiwan and its businesses can achieve sustainable development.