RIYADH: Sixteen ministries and government agencies have been refusing to cooperate with the National Anti-corruption Commission,or Nazaha, according to the commission's latest annual report. The number increased from nine agencies last year.

The commission’s report to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman lists the names of these ministries and government departments which have been refusing to allow employees of the commission to carry out their duties.

The report indicates these bodies have refused to provide the commission with requested documents and necessary information, which is a violation of the provisions of Article V of the Anti-corruption Commission Law issued by a royal decree last year.

The report also highlights achievements of the commission, the challenges its employees face in carrying out tasks and proposals to help overcome these obstacles.

Despite poor cooperation by 16 of the ministries and government departments, the report cited an overall increase in activity and productivity in the field of anti-corruption.

Twenty-seven conferences, seminars and panel discussions about integrity, transparency and anti-corruption have been organized, in addition to growing cooperation with civil society organizations.

According to the report, the Kingdom’s ranking in international anti-corruption and transparency indicators issued by Transparency International in 2014 improved, as the Kingdom was ranked 55th globally among 175 countries.

The report attributed this progress to declining levels of corruption in the Kingdom, according to figures issued by the Economic Intelligence and the corruption index issued by the World Bank, which indicates the Kingdom’s average rate in controlling corruption increased to 58.4 percent, as compared to 44.1 percent in the year 1432H when the commission was established.