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PROGRAM

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DAY 1: The Revenue Imperative to Address

Shot- and Medium-Term Challenges

Wednesday, 25 August 2021

 

Master of Ceremonies (MC):  Ms. Ceren Ozer, Program Manager, The PCT Secretariat

10:00-10:10 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

Welcoming Remarks

Mr. Vitor Gaspar, Director, Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Mr. Bruno Carrasco, Director General, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

10:10-10:35 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

Introduction and Setting the Stage

PCT Partners will give an overview presentation on the four interdependent components of the MTRS approach and introduce topics to be covered on Day 1 of the workshop. 

Chair:

Mr. James A. Brumby, Senior Advisor, Governance Global Practice, Equitable Growth, Finance & Institutions VP, World Bank Singapore

Presenter:

Mr. Ruud de Mooij, Advisor, Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Q&A with the audience

10:35 – 10:45 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

 

BREAK

10:45-11:20 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

Panel 1: How to balance short- and medium-term priorities during and after COVID-19?

This panel will discuss how countries tax systems and revenue performance have fared during COVID-19 and how they plan to shape policies during the recovery post- pandemic phase. Panelists will share their experiences and talk about how tax measures might change in the coming years.

 

 

Chair:

Mr. David Kloeden, Program Director, Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC)

Speakers: 

The Honorable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General, Minister for Economy, and Minister Responsible for Climate Change, Fiji

The Honorable Tevita Lavemaau, Minister for Finance, Revenue and Customs, Tonga

Q&A with the audience

 

11:20-11:55 a.m.

(Philippine Standard

Time)

Panel 2: How tax system reform can support development over the medium term?

This session will focus on the possible role of the MTRS to achieve the SDGs (or other national strategic objectives) in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Chair:

Ms. Ananya Basu, Director, Social Sectors and Public Sector Management Division, Pacific Department, ADB

Speakers: 

Mr. Andrew Blackman, Senior Economist, Macroeconomic, Trade & Investment Global Practice, World Bank

Mr. Fathuhulla Jameel, Commissioner General of Taxation, Maldives Inland Revenue Authority 

Mrs. Natalia Aristizabal Mora, Inter-regional Advisor on Financing for Sustainable Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)

Q&A with the audience

 

 

11:55 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

(Philippine Standard

Time)

Panel 3: When is a revenue strategy an MTRS?

This session will focus on issues around formulating an MTRS and share experiences from countries implementing MTRS. Participants will understand the difference between an MTRS and other approaches to revenue/tax reform.

Chair:

Mr. Peter Mullins, Tax Policy Consultant and former Deputy Division Chief, Tax Policy Division, FAD, IMF

Speakers: 

Mr. James A. Brumby, Senior Advisor, Governance Global Practice, Equitable Growth, Finance & Institutions VP, World Bank Singapore

Mr. Ruud de Mooij, Advisor, FAD, IMF

 Mr. Viet Anh Nguyen, Senior Public Sector Specialist, Governance Global Practice, World Bank  

Mr. Vincent Koukpaizan, Senior Economist, Revenue Administration Division 1, FAD, IMF 

Q&A with the audience

 

12:30-12:35 p.m.

Concluding Remarks & Key Takeaways by Mr. John Versantvoort, The Head of the Office of Anticorruption and Integrity, ADB

 

DAY 2: MTRS as A Way Forward for

Small States in Asia and the Pacific

Thursday, 26 August 2021

 

10:00-10:05 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

Housekeeping and Recap of Day 1 by MC

Ms. Ceren Ozer, Program Manager, The PCT Secretariat

10:05-10:40 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

Introduction and Setting the Stage

PCT Partners will give an overview presentation on region-specific updates, challenges, and opportunities. 

Chair:

Mr. Daniel Alvarez, Senior Public Sector Management Specialist, Fiscal Policy and Sustainable Growth Unit, MTI GP, World Bank

Presenter:

Ms. Margaret Cotton, Deputy Division Chief, Revenue Administration 1, Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), IMF

Q&A with the audience

 

10:40-11:15 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

 

Panel 4: Tax system reform priorities for the medium term

This panel will identify regional and country priorities for the medium-term tax system reform (tax policy, administration, legal framework) to meet strategic development objectives.

Chair:

Ms. Debra Adams, Division Chief, Revenue Administration Division 1, FAD, IMF

Speakers:

Mr. Sebastian James, Senior Economist, Fiscal Policy and Sustainable Growth Unit, MTI GP, World Bank

Mr. Xavier Mitchell, CEO, Revenue Management (Tax and Customs), Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, Cook Islands

Q&A with the audience

 

11:15-11:50 a.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

 

Panel 5: Developing Government-led effort to Tax System Reform through Sustained Political Commitment and Whole-of-Government Support

Panelists will discuss how to manage and lead a compelling MTRS that achieves broad consensus based on a whole-of-government approach. The panel will explore issues around building steady and sustained political support and securing a well-designed and sequenced implementation strategy.

Chair:

Mr. Farid Hasnaoui Mardassi, Inter-Regional Adviser on International Tax Matters, Financing for Sustainable Development Office, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)

Speakers:

The Honorable Kaleb Udui, Jr., Minister of Finance, Palau

The Honorable Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, Minister of Finance, Bhutan 

Mr. Robin Oliver, Director, Olivershaw Ltd (a New Zealand chartered accounting firm and specialist tax advisor)

Q&A with the audience

 

11:50 a.m.-12:25 p.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

 

Panel 6: Securing and Aligning External Support to Government-led Tax System Reform

This panel will talk about how countries can coordinate external support for a coherent and orderly implementation of tax system reform.

Chair:

Ms. Ashima Neb, Domestic Resource Mobilization Expert, The PCT Secretariat & World Bank

Speakers:

Mr. David Kloeden, Program Director, Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) 

Mr. Go Nagata, Public Management Specialist, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, ADB  

Mrs. Koni Ravono, Head of Secretariat, Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association (PITAA)  

Mr. Matthew Harding, Director of the Economic Policy and Programming Section, Office of the Pacific, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Q&A with the audience

 

12:25-12:30 p.m.

(Philippine Standard Time)

 

Concluding Remarks & Key Takeaways by Mr. Ruud de Mooij, Advisor, Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), International Monetary Fund