The selected third-party programs will be able to utilize the funding to fight illegal trade and related crimes. PMI announced the results during the meeting of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade in Paris.
The chosen 31 from across 23 countries and a broad range of sectors were whittled down from over 157 proposals submitted for the second round of funding. An independent council of experts in the fields of law, anti-corruption, and the fight against organized crime and illegal trade, reviewed and selected the projects.
It’s only through concerted efforts and broad public-private collaboration that we’ll be able to implement meaningful and long-term solutions against illegal trade.
Alvise Giustiniani, PMI’s Vice President Illicit Trade Prevention said: “Fighting illicit trade is in PMI’s DNA and I am delighted that PMI IMPACT is enabling organizations around the world to really make a difference against illegal trade, not only in tobacco but across a wide range of sectors. It’s only through concerted efforts and broad public-private collaboration that we’ll be able to implement meaningful and long-term solutions against illegal trade.”
The sectors include universities, academic institutions, think tanks and law enforcement authorities, which will be able to use the funding to address various aspects of illegal trade, such as tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical products to the trafficking of rare animal species.
PMI launched PMI IMPACT in 2016 with the objective to support projects dedicated to fighting illegal trade and related crimes, such as organized crime and money laundering.
To date, PMI IMPACT has allocated $49 million across 60 projects in over 41 countries as part of its first and second funding rounds.
Paul Makin, member of the PMI IMPACT Expert Council, said: “The projects announced today stand out for their innovative thinking and systematic approach to addressing the complexities of illegal trade and its links to a broader range of criminal activities. We are looking forward to seeing these ideas come to fruition and thereby help advance the global efforts to strengthen security and prevent crime around the world.”
To find out more and the selected projects, visit the PMI IMPACT website.
