Regional tax experts meeting in Hagen

Outgoing Pacific Island Tax Administrators Association executive committee chairman Kelerayani Dawai (left) with Internal Revenue Commission commissioner-general Sam Koim during the opening of the 20th association annual heads meeting in Mt Hagen on Monday.

**Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association training coordinator and office administrator Petero Maivucevuce (left) with Tuvalu’s taxation director Sania Teisini.**

THE international tax landscape is undergoing a transformation of an unprecedented magnitude, according to Kelerayani Dawai, the outgoing chairman of the Pacific Island Tax Administrative executive committee.
“In an era marked by global pandemics, globalisation, technological advancement, shifting paradigms and serious concerns regarding the environment, the tax world poses complex questions and challenges,” she said.
“Multinational corporations are navigating intricate webs of cross-border transactions, and governments are striving to harmonise tax policies while facing the ever-increasing expectations to collect revenue more efficiently and effectively.
“Amid this complexity, our role as a regional tax organisation has never been more crucial. We are not just observers. We are architects of the tax framework for the Pacific. Our collaborative efforts shape the future of Pacific taxation, as we try to ensure that our tax regimes remain fair, transparent, relevant and conducive to economic growth.”
Representing the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services chief executive officer, Dawai addressed Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association members during the opening of the annual conference in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, on Monday.
She said the gathering attended by tax professionals and experts from across the Pacific was a testament to “our shared commitment and vision in addressing the challenges of our tax landscape”.
The conference’s theme is, “unleashing innovation and collaboration for a sustainable future”.
The theme recognises the critical role of taxation in driving sustainable development in the Pacific.
It highlights the need for innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to reform and enhance tax systems where possible and needed.
“By driving innovation, we can explore new methods and technologies to streamline tax administration, improve compliance, increase revenue and adopt good practices,” she said.