Sponsored by the General Directorate of Taxation of the Republic of Uruguay, the 44th CIAT General Assembly was held in Montevideo on April 12-15; the main theme being: “The Role of the Tax Administrations in the Global Crisis”. Participants included delegations from 28 member and associate member countries,  9 delegations from other countries and observers and 19 delegations from international organizations and institutions related to CIAT.

This event, one of the most important ones in the Center’s activities agenda, was successfully concluded; not only because of the excellent organization and warmth of the Uruguayan tax administration headed by its Director, Pablo Ferreri, but also due to the technical level and contributions afforded through the documents and presentations by the speakers, commentators and moderators.

As part of the introduction to the topic, the technical program included initial presentations by Messrs. Marcio Verdi and Juan Toro, while the final considerations were presented by Mr. Alberto Barreix, IDB Senior Tax Specialist.

At the Administrative Session of April 13, the General Assembly of Representatives discussed and approved issues of institutional importance such as the Executive Secretariat’s management report, as well as the activities plan and budget for the forthcoming fiscal period.

At the closing ceremony, the General Directorate of Finance and Public Revenues of France invited the participants to the next CIAT Technical Conference to be held in Paris, on October 18-21 of this year, while the Internal Revenue Service of Ecuador also invited them to the next General Assembly which will be held in that country in the first semester of 2011.

On its part, Portugal was confirmed as the venue for the 2011 Technical Conference and both programs, that is, for the General Assembly and Technical Conference of 2011 were approved at the Administrative Session.

Within the framework of the 44th CIAT General Assembly recently held in Montevideo, Uruguay, the CIAT Executive Secretariat honored professor Edison Gnazzo for his participation in process of creation of CIAT in his capacity of General Director of Income of Uruguay, his valuable and fruitful term as CIAT Executive Secretary (1982-1992) and outstanding contribution to the analysis of public  finances, fiscal policy and strengthening and modernization of the Tax Administrations.