Strategic Partnership for Progress: (Seated Left) ATAF Executive Secretary, Ms. Mary Baine,
and (Seated Right) Head of the Egyptian
Tax Authority, Mrs. Rasha Abdel Aal Radi, formalize the Memorandum of
Understanding in Cairo. Looking on is (Standing) H.E. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance of Egypt, marking a new
era of enhanced tax capacity-building across the continent.
By Maximilla Wafula
Cairo, Egypt 7th May 2026 In a significant move toward fiscal self-reliance
across the continent, the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and the
Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) have officially signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU). This strategic partnership designates Egypt as a primary
hub for ATAF’s regional training initiatives, aimed at bolstering the technical
expertise of tax officials throughout Africa. The agreement was finalized in
Cairo during a high-level working visit, signed by Ms. Mary Baine, Executive
Secretary of ATAF, and Mrs. Rasha Abdel Aal Radi, Head of the Egyptian Tax
Authority, in the presence of H.E. Ahmed Kouchouk, Egypt’s Minister of Finance.
Under the terms of the MoU, the state-of-the-art ETA
Tax Academy will serve as a continental host facility, acting as a vital engine
for ATAF’s capacity-building programs. While the academy will support the
broader ATAF membership, it will place a specialized focus on empowering
English and Arabic-speaking countries across Northern Africa. This
collaboration is designed to facilitate high-level knowledge exchange and
institutional strengthening, ensuring that tax administrations are equipped
with the tools necessary to thrive in a complex global economy. Ms. Mary Baine
emphasized the importance of this local approach, noting that the agreement
represents a shared commitment to building African tax capacity on African
soil, anchored firmly within African institutions.
The collaboration will focus on key priority areas
essential for modern revenue mobilization, including audit effectiveness, VAT
compliance, transfer pricing, and the exchange of information. Additionally,
the partners will tackle emerging frontiers such as digital economy taxation
and data analytics. This MoU builds on an established record of technical
cooperation between the ETA and ATAF, aiming to develop a coordinated training
agenda that fosters regional collaboration. As part of ATAF’s broader
regionalization strategy, this partnership brings services closer to members to
ensure greater impact and visibility. Ultimately, this union strengthens the
collective effort to enhance domestic revenue mobilization, providing African
nations with the financial autonomy needed for sustainable growth.
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