The Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association (PITAA) reaffirmed its close partnership with the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) during the 2026 PFTAC Steering Committee Meeting, held in Suva, Fiji, from 19 to 20 May 2026.
Convened at an important moment for the Pacific region, the meeting brought together senior government officials, development partners, regional institutions, and technical experts to review PFTAC’s progress, discuss priorities for FY2027, and consider how capacity development can best support Pacific Island countries in strengthening fiscal, financial, and statistical resilience.
The discussions reflected the continuing economic pressures facing Pacific Island countries, including the need to rebuild fiscal space, strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation, improve public investment, and support informed policy making in an increasingly uncertain environment.
PITAA’s participation underscored the Association’s long-standing collaboration with PFTAC in supporting tax administration reform, regional knowledge sharing, and practical capacity development for Pacific revenue administrations. Through this partnership, PITAA and PFTAC continue to help member administrations respond to common challenges while promoting stronger, more modern, and more effective tax systems across the region.
Representing PITAA at the meeting was Head of Secretariat, Petero Maivucevuce, who also took part in a panel discussion titled “Closing the Tax Gap: Leveraging Compliance Risk Management and Digital Solutions”. The session explored how Pacific tax administrations can improve revenue outcomes through tax gap analysis, compliance risk management, and strategic digital transformation.
During the panel, Mr. Maivucevuce highlighted the importance of aligning digital tools with clear compliance strategies, sound data practices, and the realities of Pacific tax administrations, many of which operate with limited resources and capacity constraints.
“For Pacific tax administrations, domestic revenue mobilisation is not only about collecting more revenue; it is about building stronger institutions, improving voluntary compliance, and ensuring that reform efforts are practical, sustainable, and responsive to country needs,” Mr. Maivucevuce said.
He added that PITAA valued its partnership with PFTAC because it provided a strong platform for technical cooperation, peer learning, and coordinated regional support. “Our collaboration with PFTAC helps ensure that Pacific tax administrations have access to the right expertise, training, and practical tools to strengthen performance and respond to emerging challenges,” he said.
The 2026 Steering Committee Meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on PFTAC’s achievements and priorities, including its work across revenue administration, public financial management, financial sector supervision, macroeconomic analysis, and statistics. These areas remain central to supporting economic stability, sustainable growth, and resilience in Pacific Island countries.
PITAA acknowledged PFTAC’s continued role as a key regional partner in strengthening institutional capacity across the Pacific and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with PFTAC and member administrations to advance effective, inclusive, and sustainable tax administration reform.