International Fiscal Association holds meeting in Doha for first time

The meeting, which is being held at the W Hotel Doha on Thursday 22 November 2012, will be attended by members of the recently formed GCC branch of the IFA and international tax experts.

Dr Robert Peake, Branch Chairman, will introduce the work of the IFA in the GCC.

Jeffrey Owens, Senior Tax Policy Advisor to VP, Ernst & Young, and formerly Director of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, will give an overview of current tax issues. PwC will discuss 'Tax Treaty issues in GCC and Beyond'.

James Bullock, Partner, Pinsent Masons will talk on 'Resolving tax disputes and Tax Arbitration'. As a leading financial centre in the region, the QFC has a longstanding interest in tax matters. The IFA is the leading non-governmental organisation dealing with tax and related policy matters and the audience of tax professionals in Qatar and the region has grown significantly in recent years.

Dr Robert Peake, Chairman of the GCC chapter of the IFA, said, "Having received permission this year to establish a GCC-wide chapter of the IFA, we are pleased to have this very first meeting in Qatar. We are hugely grateful to the Qatar Financial Centre for hosting this event, and in particular would like to further extend our thanks to the QFC tax department for their continued support and participation within IFA, both locally and internationally."

Ian Anderson, CFO and Director of Tax, QFC, said, "With a reformed State tax regime and a relatively new QFC tax regime this is an ideal time for Qatar to host one of the IFA's meetings. It is a privilege to accommodate the first IFA gathering in Doha and to help the IFA widen its GCC network by introducing members to fellow professionals in Qatar."