ATAF has reinforced its strategic partnership with Finland following a high-level discussions between the ATAF Secretariat and a Finnish delegation comprising representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management, and the Finnish Tax Administration (VERO).
Welcoming the delegation, ATAF Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine outlined the organisation’s partnership priorities, emphasising the importance of strengthening specialised technical expertise across African tax administrations, enhancing compliance management, accelerating digital transformation, and promoting data-driven tax reforms. She also underscored the need to ensure that African perspectives are effectively represented in global tax policy processes.
“Building technical capacity and specialised expertise across African tax administrations remains central to ATAF’s strategic priorities,” Ms Baine stated, stressing that cooperation must deliver practical and scalable solutions that directly benefit member countries.
Dr Timo Voipio of Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to the partnership, noting that ATAF remains a strategic partner within Finland’s international cooperation framework. He emphasised that current support should prioritise capacity building, technical assistance and institutional strengthening to maximise development impact.
The discussions advanced collaboration under the ATAF–VERO technical assistance framework and the African-Finnish Partnerships on Taxation and Digital Transformation Programme Phase II. Technical exchanges focused on compliance risk management, advanced analytics, IT system modernisation, data governance and automation, priority areas aimed at strengthening the operational capacity and long-term sustainability of African tax administrations.
The engagements concluded with a shared commitment to deepening technical cooperation, with the expected impact including stronger compliance systems, enhanced digital capabilities and more effective domestic revenue mobilisation across ATAF member countries.
