Strong domestic tax system, including stronger tax institutions and the stemming of cross-border and domestic tax evasion, have been described as “mobilizers of revenues” for development at the launching of Addis Tax Initiative today.
In launching the Addis Tax Initiative, over 30 countries and international organizations have teamed up to strengthen international cooperation in this area.
During the occasion, Finance and Economic Development Minister Sofian Ahmed said Ethiopia has made remarkable transformation in collecting tax at the national level, especially during the past five years. Yet there is much to do when compared with the tax collecting system of other countries.
Least developed countries (LDC`s) like Ethiopia will benefit more from the initiative by sharing experiences from developed countries and creating awareness among local tax payers, according to the minister.
The initiative highlights the importance of domestic revenue for financing development and specifically stresses the significance of tackling domestic and cross-border tax evasion, it was learned.
The countries subscribing to the Addis Tax Initiative have declared their commitment to enhance the mobilization and effective use of domestic resources to improve their tax systems.
The following have joined the Addis Tax Initiative: Australia, Belgium, Cameroon, Denmark, Ethiopia, European Commission, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, Indonesia, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.
[EthiopianNewsAgency]