Paris [France], August 21 (ANI): Barbados, Namibia and Thailand have joined the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Guest Initiative, with the three countries set to participate in the FATF Plenary and Working Group Meetings for a one-year Plenary cycle beginning with the October 2026 Plenary.
The FATF is an international body that sets global standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, with its work supported by a Global Network of more than 200 jurisdictions.
The FATF, in a statement on Friday, said that the three countries, which are members of FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), will participate under their own flags as part of the initiative, which aims to strengthen cohesion across the FATF Global Network and broaden the perspectives represented in the organisation’s work.
The Guest Initiative focuses on regions where relatively few FATF members are involved in their respective regional bodies, allowing participating jurisdictions to contribute directly to the FATF’s work while strengthening engagement within their regions.
FATF President Giles Thomson welcomed the participation of the three countries and said the initiative had helped broaden the organisation’s understanding of challenges related to illicit finance.
“Over the last two years, the Guest Initiative has enriched the FATF’s discussions by bringing the perspectives and practical experience of participating jurisdictions directly to the table. Their participation has helped the FATF develop a deeper understanding of the challenges, risks and realities in a broader range of contexts, while enabling Guest Jurisdictions to draw on a wider set of experiences which can support stronger implementation of the FATF Standards in their own jurisdictions and regions. This mutual exchange strengthens our collective ability to address shared challenges. I look forward to welcoming colleagues from Barbados, Namibia and Thailand as guests at the FATF and to their contributions in support of the FATF’s and Global Network’s priorities,” Thomson said.
Barbados Attorney-General Wilfred Abrahams said the country viewed its participation as an opportunity to contribute to the FATF’s policy discussions and work.
“Barbados sees this opportunity to participate in the FATF’s Guest Initiative as an avenue to contribute to the thinking and work of the organisation. We wish to express our appreciation to the FATF’s President Giles Thompson and the organisation. We pledge to contribute fully to the policies and plans of the FATF over the coming year and to represent the interests of Barbados while raising regional issues, strengthening global standards and further securing a robust regulatory environment,” Abrahams said.
Namibia’s Financial Intelligence Centre Director Bryan Eiseb said the country would bring domestic and Southern African regional perspectives to the initiative.
“Namibia expresses its appreciation to the FATF and the support by ESAAMLG for the opportunity to participate under the initiative. We will contribute and share our domestic and Southern African regional perspectives, sharing practical experiences, and supporting global AML/CFT/CPF efforts. The participation will strengthen Namibia’s AML/CFT/CPF framework, enhance regional cooperation, and help us promote international standards and best practices domestically and regionally. We look forward to strengthening our multilateral and bilateral networks to deepen the fight against financial crimes,” Eiseb said.
Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office Secretary-General Theppasu Bavornchotidara said the initiative would provide an opportunity for Thailand to share its experience from the Asia-Pacific region while learning from other jurisdictions.
“We are genuinely honored to join the FATF Guest Initiative. Fighting financial crime isn’t something any nation can do alone. For Thailand, this is a welcome opportunity to share our on-the-ground experiences from the Asia-Pacific and learn from others. It is a vital step in protecting our communities and building a fairer, safer global financial system together,” Bavornchotidara said.
The three countries follow the Cayman Islands, Senegal, Kenya, Jamaica and Nigeria, which have previously participated in the Guest Initiative under the Mexican Presidency of the FATF.
The FATF said the Guest Initiative was launched in 2024, building on priorities identified across the Global Network to increase the voice and participation of FSRBs in FATF work.
As part of efforts to strengthen coordination across the global network, the FATF also launched a new Global Strategy Group in June 2026. The group brings together the Chairs of the FSRBs and works to strengthen coordination across the Global Network while advising on strategic issues, including cross-regional risks and opportunities for partnerships to strengthen global defences against illicit finance. (ANI)
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