The Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association partnered with the Global Forum Secretariat and the Asian Development Bank for a joint virtual event on “Centralising beneficial ownership information”, held on 13 May 2026.
The regional event was organised under the umbrella of the Asia Initiative following requests from member jurisdictions, which identified beneficial ownership registers as a priority area under the 2025/2026 work plan. Recognising the importance of transparency, accountability, and effective tax administration, PITAA joined as a partner to support wider participation and engagement from the Pacific region.
The virtual event brought together government agencies, competent authorities, and tax officials involved in the design, implementation, and supervision of beneficial ownership central registers, including officials responsible for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and business registration systems.
The event aimed to provide participants with practical information on establishing and operating effective central registers of beneficial ownership information. Discussions focused on key requirements and essential components of robust beneficial ownership systems, with particular attention given to implementation challenges and common gaps observed across jurisdictions.
Participants also had the opportunity to hear directly from jurisdictions that shared their experiences, lessons learned, good practices, and challenges encountered during the implementation of central beneficial ownership registers. The exchange of experiences encouraged stronger regional cooperation and knowledge sharing among tax administrations and relevant authorities.
As a regional body committed to strengthening tax administration cooperation and capacity building, PITAA’s involvement in the event reflects its continued support for initiatives that promote transparency, good governance, and effective information sharing across the Pacific.
The partnership further highlights PITAA’s commitment to working closely with regional and international organisations to support Pacific Island tax administrations in addressing emerging global tax and compliance challenges.