The OECD Korea Policy Centre and CATA have agreed on a joint partnership that will see CATA members benefiting from trainings offered by the Centre in Seoul. During a recent meeting held at Marlborough House, London between CATA’s Executive Director and the Global Relations Manager (Tax Program) - Korea Tax Policy Centre Mr Lim Dong Hyun, the two parties discussed a wide range of issues relating to capacity building and cooperation among tax administrations.

Mr Hyun briefed the Executive Director on the upcoming training programs at the Centre and promised to extend an invitation to CATA members. He added that, subject to availability of funding, his Government would meet the accommodation expenses for the participants.

The move is targeted at members within the Pacific Region, who are expected to take advantage of their proximity to Korea. Noting that most countries within the Region are small island developing states with unique challenges in terms of tax revenue mobilization, the two agreed that there is need to consider specific tailored capacity building initiatives for these countries that would address their immediate pressing needs.

Part of these initiatives could be enhanced through bilateral arrangements between the Centre and specific countries to facilitate in-country trainings. Mr Hyun said that the Centre has so far started a similar initiative with Fiji with very impressive results. The Executive Director agreed that CATA will engage member countries to facilitate the bilateral arrangements. Going forward, it was agreed that a country within the Region will be identified as a focal point for purposes of hosting any planned event.

Countries expected to benefit from this arrangement include Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati.