The first meeting of the monitoring committee for implementation of preparation plan for Afghanistan and implementation of FATF recommendations was held on the 24th of March 2020 under the chairmanship of the Minister of Finance H. E Dr. Mohammad Humyon Qayumi.
Abiding by the standards maintained across the country to contain the spread of COVID 19 outbreak, the meeting was conducted via video conference between officials from Da Afghanistan Bank and the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks from the chairperson H.E Dr. Mohammad Humyon Qayumi. He reflected on the purpose and importance of the committee and stressed upon the fact that that the implementation of FATF recommendations in Afghanistan’s is the responsibility of all the relevant authorities. He expressed that all relevant authorities must abide by their roles and responsibilities concerning the implementation of FATF recommendations.
Following the chairman of the committee, the acting Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank and the deputy of the monitoring committee for implementation of preparation plan for Afghanistan’s mutual evaluation, H.E Mr. Wahidullah Nowsher reflected on the significance of Afghanistan’s mutual evaluation by FATF and the relative consequences of the results of the evaluation. He emphasized on close coordination and cooperation mechanism among ministries and other relevant bodies for implementation of the preparation plan for the country’s mutual evaluation. he added that all relevant bodies must take responsibility as Afghanistan’s mutual evaluation is significant as its result will directly influence governance and lives of the people.
The Director General of Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Afghanistan and the coordinator of the monitoring committee presented a detailed report of the measures taken by FinTRACA concerning preparations for mutual evaluation of Afghanistan to the committee members. He also presented the National Risk Assessment (NRA) document and its National Action Plan, both of which have previously een approved by the High Level Coordination Commission. Furthermore, he also spoke about the procedure for Afghanistan’s mutual evaluation which is prepared by FinTRACA. He added that following its final review, the draft of the mentioned procedure is scheduled to be presented to the monitoring committee. He also assured the committee that the NRA National Action Plan will be dispatched to the relevant authorities in the coming week as planned. He mentioned that the relevant authorities are tasked to prepare their own plan for implementation of the National Action Plan.
It is worth mentioning that the monitoring committees for implementation of preparation plan for Afghanistan’s mutual evaluation is established as per the presidential decree No. 110, for better implementation of AML/CFT measures and FATF recommendations, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Finance and vice chairmanship of the Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank. The members of the committee include Director General of Macro Economics and Financial policy of the Ministry of Finance, the chairman of the legal board of Ministry of Finance, president of the Financial Disputed Resolution Council, and the Director General of FinTRACA. FinTRACA is the coordinator of the committee.
