South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The meeting of the 99th East African Revenue Authorities’ Technical Committee (EARATC) yesterday kicked off in Juba, with the aim of tackling challenges hindering revenue mobilization across the region.
Simon Akuei Deng, the Commissioner General for South Sudan Revenue Authority said the meeting will come up with recommendations to close gaps for illicit financial flows and improve tax compliance.
“Cooperation among our revenue authorities is not just beneficial it is essential, the EAC integration agenda provides us with a strategic platform to harmonize taxes, tax policies, and enhance cross-border cooperation, and leverage technologies for efficient revenue administration,” said Deng during the opening of the 5-days meeting in Juba.
Deng said EARATC serves as a cornerstone in shaping tax administration policies and providing critical advisory support to commissioner generals.
He disclosed that the recommendations of the meeting will ensure that decisions made by the tax bodies are data-driven, effective, and aligned with the broader economic goals of the EAC community.
Deng also revealed that revenue authorities within the region are navigating complex and evolving challenges of revenue mobilization, noting that economies are struggling with a lot of changes that are happening on the economic landscape.
“Together, in the unity of purpose, we can be able to finance our regional budgets, and especially, the Republic of South Sudan, who have had very low non-oil revenue collections for a number of years. I believe with the support from our colleagues in the region, we can be able to finance our budget with ease,” he said.
Beatus Nchota, the Chairperson of the East African Revenue Authorities’ Technical Committee and Head of delegation for Tanzania Revenue Authority said they will work tirelessly to implement the necessary solutions to address the existing challenges.
“As the East African region continues to grow, it is imperative that our tax systems also evolve to meet the needs of the modern economy. Together, we have the potential to make a lasting impact on tax administration across East Africa,” said Nchota.
Nchota added that through their united efforts they will be able to solve issues hindering their shared success.
“Let us work together to create an environment that fosters accountability, transparency, and effective revenue collection, which are vital for the sustainable growth and development of our nations”.
