Report on the Europe Tour of BCAS
A delegation of 21 persons comprising of members of BCAS and their families went on an educational tour to Europe from 30th May to 12th June 2011. The delegation visited six countries, namely, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and France.
The members started off from Switzerland where they visited Zurich University at which the campus of the veterinary medical college was simply awesome. It had big parks and a lake inside, with a modern library and congenial atmosphere for learning. Our delegates interacted with some students including an Indian and learnt that the Zurich University is spread over a huge area and that the campus we visited is just a small part thereof.
Thereafter, the delegation embarked on an orientation tour of Zurich which is a well planned and clean city, with large buildings of UBS, Credit Suisse and other monuments. Being a sunny day, most Europeans were found riding bicycles and/or taking sun bath by the side of a river. Post Zurich, the members travelled to Luzern and stayed at Swiss Chalet –Schloss Hotel.
On 3rd June 2011 the members visited the University at Munich, Germany, where they were warmly received by Prof. Denial and Prof. Bahwa, juniors of Prof. Dr. Moris Lehner. Members were taken for an orientation tour of the Munich University covering Convocation Hall, Class Rooms and were briefed about the historic association therewith. The University comprising different departments is spread over many buildings. One of the buildings, houses two Auditoriums – one very old and the other recent one. Members visited the class room where Late Prof. Dr. Klaus Vogel used to take lectures.Prof. Dr. Lehner exchanged pleasantries with the delegation. He has succeeded Prof. Dr. Klaus Vogel. He and his team is presently busy working on the 6th edition of the most celebrated title “Klaus Vogel on Double Taxation Conventions”. This book will be published in German Language, whereas Prof. Dr. Ekkehart Reimer (once his junior) from Heidelberg University is working on the English edition of the book. Members were touched by the hospitality extended by Dr. Lehner and his team. It was a very rewarding experience to have visited Munich University.
On Saturday 4th June 2011, the delegates visited Heidelberg University where they were warmly received by Prof. Dr. Ekkehart Reimer and his team. The University was established in 1385 and has 625 years of glorious history. The late Prof. Dr. Klaus occupied his chair at this University from 1966 to 1977 and then moved on to Munich. Prof. Reimer had organised a conference to discuss German Tax System and some of the recent rulings in the light of German Tax Treaties. He made an excellent presentation where members participated enthusiastically. The delegates were shown the “Students’ Jail” where punishment was meted out to errant students in good old days, which has now become a place for sightseeing. Members appreciated efforts and pains taken by Prof. Reimer and his team.
On Tuesday 7th June 2011, in the first half, members visited the University of Leiden which is the first University in the Netherlands, founded on 8th February 1575. The motto of the University is “Praesidium Libertatis”, Bastion of Liberty. The delegation visited the International Tax Centre situated on the banks of a canal. Leiden is beautiful city with, neat and clean streets and picturesque buildings on both sides of the canal. Mr. Michail Tegos (Mike), Program Coordinator for Adv. LLM International Tax Law extended a warm reception to the delegation. Delegation visited International Tax Centre (ITC) with class rooms, studio apartment for faculties, students’ reading room, researchers’ reading cubicles and the convocation hall. Normally, a batch comprises 40 students, mostly Europeans, and sometimes Asians including Indians. We found one student from India and one NRI student from Singapore pursuing their Masters at Leiden. The group was fortunate to meet the Director of ITC and an erudite personality, Prof. Dr. Kees Van Raad. He spent some time with the delegates and explained various courses conducted by the ITC at Leiden. He exhorted members to take advantage of these courses. Later, members visited the Law Department building beautiful library and a lecture hall. Members expressed their gratification over the visit and thanked Mike for all his efforts in making the visit memorable.From Leiden, the delegates drove to Amsterdam and visited International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) where the Director, Belema Obuoforibo, of the Knowledge Centre and various other officials extended a warm welcome to the delegates. Seven different presentations were made on various activities of IBFD. The entire programme was meticulously planned. First, Ms. Belema, introduced the working of the Knowledge Centre. Thereafter, Ms. Jolien Terpstra informed about the Library and Documentation Centre. Ms. Myra Flaminiano briefed about the activities of the Government Consultancy Department, whereas Mr. Ban Van Breevoort, Publisher introduced the Online Research Platform. Mr. Shee Boon Law and Ms. Leandra Juilen, both from the International Tax Academy, enlightened the delegates about the Academy’s activities and expressed a desire to organise joint programmes with BCAS. Mr. Frans Vanistendael, the Academic Chairman, talked about the various academic initiatives undertaken. The delegates then visited state of the art library on International Tax Literature. It was a proud moment to see one of the publications of the BCAS in the IBFD library.
On Thursday 9th June, 2011 at 9.30 am, the delegation of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) at Paris, France. Mr. Stefaan. DEBAETS, Advisor – Transfer Pricing, had oragnised a conference on Transfer Pricing for the benefit of the delegates. Ms. Linda Aidan from the OECD Public Affairs Division. warmly received delegates. Mr. Jean de la Rochebrochard briefed members about OECD and its activities. Ms. Mayra Lucas made a presentation on the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, 2010 which was very informative and instructive. She also briefed about the future work contemplated by OECD. After the presentation, the delegates visited some of the facilities at OECD. The infrastructure at OECD is amazing. As high ranking officials/ representatives visit the institution throughout the year, the security is very stringent. Meeting and Assembly halls of different capacities are in place to take care of meetings of various working groups of members countries/observers on a variety of issues from environment to governance and taxation.In conclusion, the tour was very successful, as members had an opportunity to visit some of the reputed educational institutions the world over, which has not only widened their academic horizon but would also help them in their professional pursuit. Young members were fascinated by the courses offered by various institutions and got a valuable input for their career planning. Seniors had an occasion to interact with faculty to understand the subjects from different perspectives. The kind of respect and reception our members received from each of these seats of learning was simply unparalleled. Delegates realised that the BCAS is known and respected overseas everywhere.
A set of reading material received from various Institutions/Universities is available in the BCAS library for the benefit of its membership.
BCAS acknowledges with thanks the efforts put in by S/s Roy Rohatgi, T.P. Ostwal and Dhaval Sanghavi in facilitating above visits.
