Koror, Palau | 21 September 2026 – The 23rd Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association (PITAA) Annual Heads Meeting (PAHM) officially commenced today in Koror, Palau, bringing together Heads of Tax Administrations, senior tax officials and development partners from across the Pacific for a week of dialogue, collaboration and knowledge sharing under the theme, “Rising with the Tides.”
Palau’s Bureau of Revenue and Taxation (BRT) hosted the meeting, which opened with a ceremony attended by delegates representing 15 of PITAA’s 16 member administrations. In welcoming delegates, BRT Director Elway Ikeda described the occasion as a historic milestone for Palau, marking the first time the country has hosted a PITAA Annual Heads Meeting.
“This marks the first time Palau has hosted our Annual Heads Meeting since PITAA was established. This commitment strengthens our mission to build institutional capacity and deepen regional collaboration so we can respond together to whatever reaches our shores,” said Mr. Ikeda.
Reflecting on the meeting theme, Mr. Ikeda highlighted the value of cooperation among Pacific tax administrations.
“A tide is usually not one big wave. It is countless small movements, all going the same way. That is a good picture of PITAA. Some of us simply cannot build every system or train every capability alone. But together we can learn from each other, borrow what works, and warn each other about what doesn’t.”
The official opening was delivered by His Excellency President Surangel Whipps, Jr., who underscored the importance of effective tax administration in supporting economic resilience, public service delivery and sustainable development across the Pacific.
“Strong tax systems are part of that resilience. They allow governments to deliver better schools, stronger health systems, reliable infrastructure, and support when communities face hardship,” President Whipps said.
He also encouraged administrations to continue working together to address common challenges and opportunities facing the region.
“We are not asking others to solve our problems for us. We are inviting them to collaborate with us. That is exactly what brings us together today.”
Following the opening ceremony, delegates convened for the first business session of the meeting, which included the election of the Chair. Outgoing Chair Michael Cokanisiga, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Revenue and Customs, Kingdom of Tonga, thanked members, partners and the PITAA Secretariat for their support during Tonga’s tenure and reflected on the progress achieved through regional cooperation.
Delegates subsequently elected Elway Ikeda as Chair of the 23rd PITAA Annual Heads Meeting. A key highlight of the proceedings was the ceremonial handover of the PITAA Meeting Lali, symbolising the transfer of leadership from Tonga to Palau.
Over the course of the week, delegates will discuss priority issues facing Pacific tax administrations, including compliance and risk management, digital transformation, revenue intelligence and data analytics, workforce development and international cooperation. The programme also includes technical workshops and capacity development sessions aimed at strengthening institutional capability and fostering greater regional collaboration.
The 23rd PITAA Annual Heads Meeting will continue until 25 September 2026, reaffirming PITAA’s commitment to building stronger, more resilient and future-ready tax administrations across the Pacific.