10/09/2018 - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Norway agreed today to gear up efforts to help developing countries address their domestic resource mobilisation challenges in order to finance the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Nikolai Astrup, Norway's Minister for International Development, and Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration signed a letter of intent indicating plans to contribute financial support estimated at NOK 45 million (approximately EUR 4.6 million) over 4 years, starting in 2019. The partnership has been developed with the shared view that effective tax systems are a cornerstone of development and that co-operation on tax and development should accelerate, especially on international tax matters.

 

Particular areas of focus may include supporting developing countries with implementing recommendations from the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project and exchange of information, combatting tax and other financial crimes, and making relevant expertise available from across the OECD in tax administration and tax policy for the benefit of developing countries.

 

Speaking at a Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD) Policy Forum, Mr. Saint-Amans said, "I am delighted we are stepping up our partnership with Norway. The resources will help us unlock much needed expertise to make a practical difference to some of the poorest countries". The Minister commented, "I am very excited about this new partnership with the OECD. We are increasing the focus on taxation in our development co-operation. The new partnership will enable developing countries to play a more active role in shaping the global tax system, and will give them access to the tools they need to improve their own taxation systems."

 

Media queries should be directed to Pascal Saint-Amans (+33 1 4524 9108), Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, or Guri Solberg (+47 922 19 769), Communications Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.