In May 2008, under funding allocated by DFID India, Crown Agents was engaged to improve VAT Audit capacity within the Commercial Taxes Department (CTD) of Orissa.
Our programme has been designed to optimise the transfer of skills and to develop a substantial in-house training resource within the department itself. 
Initially our UK based team delivered a trainer skills course to selected CTD staff and introduced these delegates to the core VAT audit skills module. Thereafter, Crown Agents' country manager, Devashish Banerji, and Bhubaneswar-based consultant, Hementa Nayak, worked closely with the Crown Agents head office team to coordinate a series of two-week courses which were delivered by our local associates. Crown Agents' international consultant has delivered training in computerised VAT audit toward the end of the project.
"Whilst the programme was challenging and demanding it invoked enthusiasm among the participants" said a CTD staff who attended one of the training courses.
"My present position involves training delivery. I found the programme very helpful in reinforcing my training skills", said another participant.
Throughout its duration, the programme has benefited from the positive support of Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Aditya Padhi, his successor, Commissioner Tuhin K. Pandey, Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Adwaita Prasad Sahu, and Commercial Taxes Officer, Sambit Parija, who coordinated the logistics. The project was completed in December 2008, the scheduled completion date.