Advancing Egypt’s fiscal governonce, Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA), announced that the Authority has officially joined the “Tax Inspectors Without Borders” (TIWB) initiative as a partner tax administration. The move marks a historic evolution in ETA’s international engagement, transitioning from a beneficiary of technical assistance to a provider of expertise and capacity-building support for developing nations.
The TIWB initiative, a flagship collaboration between the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to strengthen global tax systems by facilitating hands-on assistance in complex tax matters, particularly transfer pricing. Funded by the European Union, TIWB plays a pivotal role in helping nations combat base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) by multinational corporations.
Since joining the initiative as one of its earliest African beneficiaries in 2016, the ETA has undergone significant institutional transformation. Abdel Aal underscored “the full backing and ongoing guidance of Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk,” under whose leadership the Authority has deepened its commitment to institutional development and international cooperation.
Describing the ETA’s new role as an “unprecedented milestone in the Authority’s history,” Abdel Aal said that Egypt is now poised to extend its technical assistance to other developing countries, particularly in areas of international taxation and transfer pricing. “This is not merely a symbolic step; it reflects a solid foundation of knowledge, experience, and reform that we have accumulated over nearly a decade of collaboration with the initiative,” she said.
Abdel Aal highlighted that, over the past several years, the ETA has conducted four extensive capacity-building programmes under TIWB. These efforts were supported by a combination of OECD and UNDP experts, as well as independent international consultants. The current phase of the programme, delivered in partnership with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom, focuses on advanced transfer pricing challenges in high-stakes sectors such as extractive industries, financial services, and telecommunications.
As a result of these collaborations, Egypt has established a dedicated unit for international taxation and transfer pricing, trained 37 specialist inspectors, and significantly improved the quality and rigor of tax audits involving multinational corporations. This, Abdel Aal noted, has translated into measurable increases in tax revenues and the implementation of key regulatory reforms aligned with global standards.
“We have not only strengthened our internal capacity but have also contributed to the development of fair and transparent tax systems. Joining the initiative as a partner is an international endorsement of our efforts and a testament to our readiness to share our experience with others. ”she said.
The OECD echoed this sentiment, stating that ETA’s new role “demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to fostering a collaborative international tax environment rooted in mutual learning and shared accountability.”
Abdel Aal concluded by reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to global cooperation and sustainable tax governance. “We are proud of this historic achievement and look forward to contributing to a more equitable international tax system,” she said.
