Busan Aid Effectiveness Forum: African tax experts to meet on investing aid money into tax administration

The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) is set to hold a side meeting at the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea from November 29 to December 1, 2011.

According to ATAF, the event entitled “Domestic Resource Mobilisation, Taxation and Development: Implications for the Aid Effectiveness Agenda” looks at how aid should be used to invest in tax administrations, financial institutions, budgeting and auditing.

In an emailed statement to ghanabusinessnews.com, the body said speakers at the event include the Executive Secretary of the OECD, Mr Angel Gurria. He will be speaking on “How do cross border tax evasion and tax havens damage development?”

Others, ATAF said are President of the African Development Bank, Dr Donald Kaberuka who will address “Why is little aid directed to supporting the development of tax administrators?” and the Minister of Economy and Finance of Senegal, Mr Abdoulaye Diop. Mr Diop will speak on “What is needed to improve donor coherence and coordination in tax matters? And whether donors should pay tax on aid-funded goods and service?”

The rest of the speakers are Mr Nhlanhla Nene, Deputy Finance Minister of South Africa; Mr Harald Klein, Director General in the Ministry of Economic Cooperation & Development of Germany and Mr Eric Postel, USAID Assistant Administrator (Bureau of Economic Growth, Agriculture & Trade).

The 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness takes place every four years and is attended by various Heads of State, Ministers responsible for Finance, Planning and Development, the UN Secretary General and Heads of UN and Aid Agencies, and Heads and senior representatives of International Organisations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

By Ekow Quandzie