A top international tax negotiator who is about to retire from the Dutch Government has been engaged to advise the Isle of Man on global taxation issues and market access opportunities.
Ernst Bunders, who will join the Manx Government’s team of senior advisers from 1 February this year, is a former deputy director of both national and international tax policy and legislation with the Netherlands Ministry of Finance.
The Isle of Man wants to draw on his experience as an international negotiator for the Netherlands, which includes representing his country in such matters as the EU Savings Directive, the EU Code of Conduct on Business Taxation, and the OECD Report on Harmful Tax Competition.
Bunders, who has a Masters Degree in Law, also took part in the international tax treaty project that supported the peace framework between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
“The Isle of Man has developed a good reputation for the positive and intelligent way in which it has faced up to international tax issues,” says Bunders. “I am pleased to offer my services to support the Island in achieving the best results for its own economy and people whilst complying with international requirements.”
Ernst Bunders is the third international expert to be recruited by the Isle of Man Government to advise on global tax and market access issues. He joins Richard Hay, a partner in the international law firm Stikeman Elliott, and Bob Harland, recently retired as a tax partner with the global professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“I look forward to welcoming Ernst to the Treasury’s group of senior advisers,” says Isle of Man Treasury Minister Allan Bell MHK. “His skills and experience at the highest level will be of great value as we strive to promote the best interests of the Isle of Man in a changing and challenging international environment. In recent years the Island has had great success in developing and implementing policies that have not only maintained a vibrant economy, but have also consolidated our standing as a well-regulated and fiscally stable international business centre. It is vital that this position of strength continues, and the Manx Government now has three senior Treasury advisers to call upon to assist it in strategy and policy development, international negotiations and liaison, and the drawing up of legislation to support aspects of the Economic Strategy. The engagement of such internationally known and respected advisers will further strengthen the Island’s reputation in this field and our ability to deal effectively with issues related to international tax initiatives.”