Fiji hopes to draw on and learn from the experiences of the Korean taxation authority and systems.

Seven executives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Korea Policy Centre conducted a workshop with 60 staff members of FRCA yesterday.

This was to help improve and maintain high standards the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.

The Korean experience

The workshop was based on International Taxation and Korean Experience.

Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority chief executive, Jitoko Tikolevu said: “It would improve our role as the revenue collector for the Government.

“Our economies and tax base may differ in sizes but our issues are the same.

“As a small developing nation, we rely on bigger nations, in particular those as developed as Korea to build our capacity.

“We need to keep abreast of global developments even though we are geographically isolated.”

Fiji’s stepping stone

OECD Korea Policy Centre Director General, Weon–Kyoung Jo, hoped the workshop would be a stepping stone for a better mutual co-operation in the field of taxation between Korea and Fiji.

He said this would be while enhancing understandings on international taxation.

The Korea Tax Center (KTC) is the only OECD Multilateral Tax Center in the Asia-Pacific region.

The centre provides participants with advance knowledge in international taxation.

Going beyond the Asian countries, the Korea Tax Center is trying to reach out to the Pacific island countries.

“As the leading country in the Pacific region, I believe Fiji has stood out for more development especially in the taxation field,” Mr Kyoung Jo said.

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