The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is partnering with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in a campaign to improve anti-corruption efforts.

The campaign kicked off on Monday with a meeting between the BMA’s Anti-Corruption Operation Centre, led by its director and city deputy permanent secretary, Chaloemphol Chotinuchit, and executives of the UNODC at the centre’s war room on the third floor of City Hall in Phra Nakhon district.

The UNODC representatives joining the session included its regional anti-corruption adviser Annika Wythes, anti-corruption specialist David Spence, and national programme officer Nichanee Wongba.

The meeting agreed that the BMA and the UNODC would co-host workshops regarding the issuance of permits for buildings and construction for officials of the city’s Public Works Department in all 50 districts. The workshops will aim to improve officials’ efficiency and reduce public complaints on officials’ corruption and malfeasance.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt had earlier ordered the BMA to find tangible solutions to address corruption problems after the construction permit issued to a luxury condo project in Watthana district was invalidated by the Supreme Administrative Court, raising questions about the authority’s issuance of permits to developers who had not complied with the laws.

The UNODC has been engaging in anti-corruption promotion campaigns in 11 countries across the Asian region, including providing international academic assistance and public relation campaigns.

The BMA was hoping that a joint campaign with the UNODC would lead to cooperation in other fields in the future, said Chaloemphol.