Bangkok (SUNA) – Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Gebreil Ibrahim has called for greater fairness in the international tax system and expanded opportunities for developing countries to mobilize domestic resources and finance their sustainable development priorities. He stressed the need for international tax rules to reflect these countries’ needs, development priorities and institutional capacities. The minister made the remarks while participating in the high-level meeting of finance ministers on the future of international tax cooperation, held in Bangkok. He explained that the war in Sudan had inflicted severe damage on the national economy and public institutions and weakened the country’s revenue collection capacity. This makes tax system reform and administrative modernization a priority for strengthening recovery and reconstruction and restoring the state’s capacity to finance essential services. He highlighted the importance of developing digital tax and customs systems, broadening the tax base, improving compliance, enhancing transparency, and combating tax evasion and illicit financial flows. Dr. Gebreil stressed that achieving these priorities required sustained technical and financial support, including the development of digital infrastructure, capacity-building, and the transfer of knowledge and technology. He called on the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group and development partners to coordinate their efforts and provide practical support tailored to the needs of fragile and conflict-affected countries, ensuring that international commitments translate into tangible results. He also underscored the importance of ensuring the effective participation of developing countries in shaping international tax rules, particularly those governing the digital economy and cross-border services. Such participation, he said, would promote a fairer allocation of taxing rights, take account of disparities in administrative capacity, and enable these countries to benefit from their own resources without facing disproportionate implementation burdens. The minister reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to modernizing tax administration, enhancing transparency and accountability, and applying relevant international standards in line with national circumstances and development priorities. He stressed that international tax cooperation should deliver practical results, including increased public revenues, stronger capacity to finance essential services, and the resources needed for recovery, reconstruction and sustainable development.BH/BH