30 Argentinean Officials Graduate from 2016 IEFPA - UNITAR Programme for Trainers in Transnational Fiscal Transparency

24 October 2016, Geneva, Switzerland - The Public Finance Institute of Argentina (IEFPA) and UNITAR successfully concluded the 2016 Programme for Trainers in Transnational Fiscal Transparency with a seminar held on 17 October 2016 in Geneva. On 18 October participants undertook a study visit to Bern where the Head of the International Financial Affairs Section at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) Mr. Alexander Renggli briefed the participants on the policies and practices of Switzerland in the area of Exchange of Information. After the briefing, participants discussed this and other international fiscal policy issues with Mr. Renggli and four other Swiss officials.

The President of IEFPA Prof Raùl Roa and the official representative of the Public Income Administration of Argentina (AFIP) Ms. Maria Jorgelina Cruz opened the seminar at the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva in the presence of the Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the UN in Geneva, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Martinez.

Five senior experts on international fiscal matters discussed the following topics with the participants: Dr. Osvaldo R. Agatiello, Adjunct Professor of International Relations at International University in Geneva (IUG) and international consultant: “Ethics in Public Finance”; Mr. Richard Bolwijn, Chief of Trade Facilitation Section, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): “Linkages between fiscal policies and international investment”; Ms. María Jorgelina Cruz, Specialist in International Fiscal Strategy, Public Income Administration of Argentina (AFIP): “International standards on information exchange:  Establishing the Argentinean case"; Ms. Patricia Milano, Auditor, Public Income Administration of Argentina (AFIP): “Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), its treatment in Argentina and the importance of tax audit"; and Mr. Carlos García Pastrana, Secretary of Academic Extension Studies, Public Finance Institute of Argentina (IEFPA): “International transparency and effective control of the jurisdictional link. Money laundering and tax evasion – Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan".

The 30 Argentinean federal government officials who successfully completed the Programme consisting of face-to-face courses in Argentina, online courses in partnership with UNITAR, and seminars in Madrid and Geneva received a Certificate of Completion from IEFPA and UNITAR.

The partnership between IEFPA and UNITAR goes back to 2010, when IEFPA and UNITAR organized the first joint e-Learning courses related to taxation issues. The main objective of IEFPA/UNITAR Programme for Trainers in Transnational Fiscal is to strengthen connections between tax officials through exchange of experiences and good practices. The Programme flows directly from the United Nations’ vision of sustainable development which calls for one single sustainable development agenda. Accomplishments to date under the partnership between UNITAR and IEFPA include five joint e-Learning courses, and one joint seminar and study visit.

On 17 October 2016 the President of IEFPA and the Officer-in-Charge of UNITAR formalized both organization’s commitment to significantly expand their collaboration in 2017/2018 by opening the Programme to regional and international organizations, and extending the duration of the 2017 seminar in Geneva and the related study visit to 5 days.

Related link

Further information about IEFPA can be found at www.iefpa.org.ar (in Spanish).