The Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) successfully hosted the ARIN-AP Steering Committee Meeting and the 10th Annual General Meeting in Mongolia for the second time, from 23 to 25 September 2025.

The Annual General Meeting was held under the theme “Asset Recovery and Legal Frameworks for Digital Asset Management”. Discussions focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in virtual asset recovery, including practical experiences and best practices, as well as legal frameworks for non-conviction-based asset confiscation, regional cooperation, and emerging trends in asset management.

Experts and representatives from Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, India and New Zealand delivered presentations and exchanged views during three closed thematic sessions, contributing to strengthened regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing in asset recovery efforts.

International cooperation is essential in the fight against corruption and illicit financial flows. In this regard, the IAAC of Mongolia continues to make a tangible contribution to strengthening regional anti-corruption efforts, promoting justice, and preventing illicit financial flows through active cooperation with partner countries.

A clear example of this commitment is Mongolia’s election as a member of the Steering Committee of the ARIN-AP, followed by its role as the Chairing Country for 2025, under which Mongolia hosted the AGM for the second time.

In addition to member countries of the ARIN-AP, the meeting was attended by representatives of international, regional, and national law enforcement and crime-fighting organizations, as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Middle East and North Africa Asset Recovery Interagency Network (MENA-ARIN).

The Prime Minister of Mongolia, Mr. G. Zandanshatar, attended the opening ceremony of the meeting and delivered a keynote address, noting that the event marks an important step in the global efforts to combat financial and money-laundering crimes, corruption, and the financing of terrorism.

Citing reports of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Prime Minister emphasized that asset recovery networks serve as a vital bridge for rapid information exchange among national law enforcement agencies, supporting the processes of identifying, freezing, confiscating, and recovering proceeds of crime.

He underlined that this initiative goes beyond law enforcement cooperation, playing a crucial role in building trust among countries in the region and among their law enforcement institutions, as well as strengthening justice. The Prime Minister further reaffirmed that Mongolia will continue to actively contribute to this important regional initiative and remain firmly committed to enhancing effective cooperation among network members.

The Head of the IAAC and Commissioner General, Mr. Z. Dashdavaa, stated that illicit financial flows are increasingly shifting into the digital sphere, expanding through virtual assets, cryptocurrency transactions, and cross-border electronic transfers.

He noted that under these circumstances, it is no longer sufficient to rely solely on traditional legal and regulatory measures, emphasizing the need to widely utilize new technologies, particularly the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI). AI and advanced digital technologies offer new opportunities to detect illicit financial transactions, investigate suspicious financial flows, and conduct rapid, data-driven analysis.

Participants further highlighted that illicit financial flows cannot be addressed by any single country alone, as they represent a shared challenge requiring close international cooperation. They expressed the view that the meeting provides a valuable platform to discuss common regional challenges from multiple perspectives, reach coordinated solutions, and open new, more effective avenues for technology-driven cooperation.