Vientiane (VNA) 𓃲– The 19th Meeting of the Working Group on the ASEAN Forum on Taxation (WG-AFT 19) and the 16th Meeting of the ASEAN Sub-Forum on Excise Taxation are taking place in Luang Prabang province of Laos from October 14-16.

The events, which are chaired by Bounpaseuth Sikhounlabout, Director General of the Tax Department under the Ministry of Finance of Laos, saw the presence of representatives from ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Delegates have discussed various topics, including the progress of summits related to the ASEAN Economic Community in the post-2025 period, the ASEAN Economic Community Strategy for 2026-2030, and related issues. They also examined the implementation of tax policy mechanisms, the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI), and the role of each country's tax sector in fostering competition following the adoption of the second pillar. The discussions also covered tax agreements and policies, tax debt notifications, tax deduction obligations, tax collection of crypto assets, and digital tax management, aiming to establish a unified, equitable, and more effective tax system within ASEAN. Through these discussions, delegates seek to strengthen relationships that will serve as a foundation for future cooperation, helping to define equitable, effective, and sustainable tax management strategies that promote integration and resilience in the ASEAN region and beyond. These meetings provide an opportunity for ASEAN member countries, particularly tax experts, to engage in dialogue on tax competition and policies following the implementation of the second pillar. Topics such as tax revenue management using digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI), advancements in amending double taxation avoidance (DTA) agreements, tax deductions, and value-added tax (VAT) management in international trade are also on the agenda, along with future planning directions for direct tax policies in the region and a review of the 2024 priorities for the AFT and SF-ET meetings./.