EAG Secretariat participated in the APG Annual Meeting and Technical Assistance and Training Forum

From September 22 to 27, 2024, the EAG Secretariat participated in the APG Plenary Meeting and Technical Assistance and Training Forum held in Abu Dhabi (UAE). 

The meeting organized by the UAE National Committee for Combating Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Illicit Organizations was attended by more than 400 delegates from Asia-Pacific countries, as well as organizations and observer countries.

During the annual meeting, delegates discussed important issues and took meaningful decisions aimed at strengthening international cooperation and enhancing overall effectiveness in combating serious financial crimes, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and WMD proliferation financing.

The APG adopted a new strategic plan for the period 2024-2028, as well as the co-chairs' priorities for the period 2024-2026. Mutual Evaluation Reports (MERs) of four countries (Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, East Timor) were adopted.

The APG members also adopted the MER of India as a result of the joint FATF/APG/EAG mutual evaluation. The EAG Secretary congratulated India on successful completion of the report and noted significant achievements of India in improving the national AML/CFT/CPF system.  

The United Arab Emirates as a host country presented its experience of virtual assets regulation framework, implementation of the public-private partnership mechanism in the field of AML/CFT, and also implementation of measures on ensuring transparency of beneficial ownership of legal entities.

APG granted observer status to the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJL), which recently launched a large-scale technical assistance program in the Asia-Pacific region.

APG also removed one jurisdiction, the DPRK, from the observer list due to a lack of engagement for six years.

In addition, APG welcomed Mr. Mitsutoshi Kajikawa (Japan), Deputy Vice-Minister of Finance for International Affairs of the Ministry of Finance of Japan, as the new APG co-chair for 2024-2026.

In parallel to the Annual Meeting, the APG held its 22nd Technical Assistance and Training Forum. This Forum provided a platform for cooperation to ensure coordination, consistency and synchronization of AML/CFT technical assistance in the Asia-Pacific region. The Forum was attended by 25 technical assistance recipient countries and 19 donors and providers.

On the margins of the Forum, the EAG Secretariat held talks with potential donors and providers on the possibility of providing technical assistance to EAG member states.   

EAG Secretariat