Presentations: Tax seminar in Lusaka April 2012
Programme:
Wednesday 18 April
Moderator: Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia, Arve Ofstad
08:00 Registration
08:40 Welcome by Arve Ofstad, Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia.
08:45 Opening remarks by Berlin Msiska, Commissioner General Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) followed by 20 min presentation on ‘Mineral Taxation in Zambia – main challenges for ZRA’. Questions and discussion.
09:30 ‘Managing Natural Resources: Are Norwegian experiences relevant for African countries? Presentation by Villa Kulild, Director General Norad. Questions and discussion.
10:15 Tea and refreshments
10:45 ‘Overview of the South African legal and regulatory system for natural resource revenue collection and administration and a high level comparison to other African jurisdictions’. Introduction 20 min by Antony Cohen, South African Revenue Service (SARS). Questions and discussion
11:30 ‘Oil, gas and mining in Mozambique – the relationship between tax policy and administration from AT’s perspective.’ Presentation 20 min by Moises Marrime, Autoritade Tributaria de Mozambique (AT). Questions and discussion
12:15 ‘Constrains to more effective taxation of extractive industries in Tanzania – what needs to be done?’ Presentation 20 min Neema Mrema, Commissioner, Large Taxpayers Department, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Questions and discussion.
13:00 Lunch
14:00 ‘Designing Fiscal Regimes Taking Into Account Administrative Capacity’. Presentation 20 min by Charles McPherson and Alistair Watson, IMF. Questions and discussion.
14:45 ‘Why are tax revenues from mining so low in many countries - and what can be done about it?’ Presentation 20 min by Frian Årsnes, Econ Poyry. Questions and discussion.
15:30 Coffee/tea
15:45 ‘Is Taxation of minerals in Botswana a success story – and what can other countries learn from this?’ Presentation 20 min by Onthusitse Melaetsa, Botswana Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources and Kgomotso Moakofhi, Botswana Unified Revenue Service. Questions and discussion.
16.30: ‘What is a physical audit and why are they so important?’ Presentation 15 min by Venance Bahati, Principal Tax Expert, Tanzania Mineral Audit Agency (TMAA). Questions and discussion.
17:15: Wrap-up of day 1 by Ambassador Arve Ofstad.
18:30 : Reception at Cresta Golfview Hotel hosted by the Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia, Arve Ofstad
Thursday 19 April
Moderator: Jean Moueli, African Tax Administrations Forum
09:00 ‘Building taxpayer cultures in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia: Achievements, challenges and recommendations for Norwegian support.’ Introduction 30 min by Odd Helge Fjeldstad, Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) and the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD).
09:30 Short prepared comments (5 minutes) to the findings and recommendations of the report by ATM, TRA and ZRA. Questions and discussion.
10:30 Tea and refreshments
11:00 ‘Tax moral in Norway (and elsewhere) – firm or flexible?’. Presentation 20 min by Fredrik Aksnes, Norwegian Tax Administration (NTA). Questions and discussion.
11:30 ‘Tax incentives and exemptions: challenges for tax policy and revenue administration’. Presentation 20 min by Adolf Ndunguru, Research and Policy Department, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
12:15 ‘Improving large taxpayers’ compliance’. Presentation 20 min by Moises Marrime, Autoritade Tributaria de Mozambique (AT). Questions and discussion.
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Discussion in groups
15:00 Groups report key discussion points to the plenary
16:00 Coffee and tea
16:15 ‘Tax for development: the need for increased stakeholder engagement and public debate.’ Presentation 20 min by Savior Mwambwa, Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) and Zambia Tax Platform (ZTP).
17:00 Wrap-up and conclusion by Jean Moueli, ATAF.
19:30 Dinner at Cresta Golfview