On Thursday, April 16, at 9:30 AM, NABO, in collaboration with the OECD, held the opening ceremony of the 4th Annual Conference of Asian Parliamentary Budget Officials at the 2nd Seminar Room of the National Assembly Members’ Hall. The conference was held for three days, from Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17, under the theme "Mastering Fiscal Issues for Members of Parliament."

During the opening ceremony, Dong-ha Chi, the Chief of NABO, expressed his sincere hope that the conference would serve as a productive forum for strengthening the cooperative network among parliamentary budget officials and for deriving practical policy implications and collaborative tasks.

In a congratulatory address, Won-shik Woo, the Speaker of the National Assembly, emphasized that every fiscal policy decision—spanning budget and settlement, taxation, national debt, and strategies for welfare and growth—exerts a profound influence on the daily lives of citizens and the future of the nation. Speaker Woo particularly highlighted the necessity of parliamentary fiscal expertise and accountability in an era defined by growing economic uncertainty and complex challenges, including low birth rates, an aging society, the climate crisis, and the ongoing industrial transition.

The proceedings continued with a keynote speech by the Rt. Hon. Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee of the UK House of Commons, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Chief Chi. Delivering his keynote on the theme "Mastering Fiscal Issues for Members of Parliament," Mr. Liam Byrne stressed that parliamentary budget official smust provide active support to help members recognize crises in advance and make rational choices. He identified five critical areas for this support: persuading members of the urgency of fiscal improvements, providing transparent fiscal information, clearly explaining the consequences of policy choices, sharing exemplary policy cases, and utilizing narratives to facilitate a more intuitive understanding of fiscal policy.

The subsequent panel discussion featured insights from several international experts. Mark Hadley, Deputy Director of the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, emphasized the importance of explaining the consequences of decision-making clearly and noted that information delivery must be rapid and concise during times of crisis. Mr. Hadley’s points were echoed by Romulo Miral, Deputy Secretary General of the Philippines Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department, who suggested that budget materials should incorporate narratives to help members engage more effectively in fiscal discussions. Furthermore, Chanthy Nop, Director of the Cambodia Senate Budget Research Office, argued that establishing a foundation of trust between budget officials and legislators is a prerequisite for success. Finally, Harry Withers, Director of the Australian Parliamentary Budget Office, highlighted the need to strategically provide the specific information members require, such as cost estimates for particular policies, to enhance their awareness and understanding of fiscal issues.

In the afternoon sessions, participants engaged in deeper deliberations regarding the building understanding of public finances among parliamentarians, the independent assessment of fiscal projections, and the use of artificial intelligence in budget analysis.

Chief Chi concluded the event by remarking that as global uncertainties like low growth, climate change, and supply chain restructuring intensify, the parliament’s role in fiscal control and policy evaluation has become more critical than ever. He expressed his wish that the discussions and ideas shared during the conference would serve as a foundation for meaningful progress and substantive change in the fiscal policies of each participating nation.