During a regional meeting on challenges and opportunities in implementing international tax standards in the Pacific held in November 2019, Pacific Islands States highlighted the difficulty in prioritising international tax co‑operation initiatives while simultaneously pursuing reforms to strengthen their domestic tax systems. Despite these constraints, they recognised that the effective implementation of the international standards on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes is essential for combating tax evasion, reducing illicit financial flows, and enhancing domestic resource mobilisation.
In response, the Pacific Initiative was launched in October 2020 as a joint capacity-building programme. Based on a phased approach, the initiative supports the gradual implementation of the international tax transparency standards across the region, while contributing to stronger domestic resource mobilisation.
Regional workshops are regularly organised to raise awareness of the benefits of international tax standards, including tax transparency standards, and to build domestic capacities to facilitate implementation and effective use of these standards.
In addition, tailored country assistance is also provided to support the effective implementation and use of the standards, while taking full consideration of the specific challenges Pacific Island States face.
