The cooperation between Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) is vital in the global fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. FIUs share financial transaction information and intelligence with the counterpart FIUs as this information exchange benefits not only the operational work of the FIUs, but also the Law Enforcement Agencies in tracking the international movement of the proceeds of crime. Generally, FIUs formalize international exchange understandings through some form of exchange instruments e.g. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Exchanges of Letter or through the forum of Egmont Group.
In terms of Section 6(4)(e) of the AML Act, 2010, Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) is empowered to cooperate with financial intelligence units of other countries and to make reciprocal arrangements in order to share, request and receive information relating to money laundering, predicate offences and financing of terrorism and any other information that may be necessary to accomplish the objectives of the AML Act. With reference to need for enhancement of international cooperation, FMU is actively engaged with FIUs of various countries so that MOUs may be put in place to ensure seamless exchange of financial intelligence. This is expected to support LEAs in carrying out effective investigations. In this regards, so far FMU has signed MOUs with the following countries, concerning cooperation in the exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering, associated predicate offence and terrorism financing:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Financial Intelligence Unit (SAFIA)
United Kingdom (UK)
UK Financial Intelligence Unit (NCA)
Qatar
Qatar Financial Information Unit (QFIU)
Japan
Japan Financial Intelligence Centre (JAFIC)
Malaysia
The FIU of Malaysia-Bank Negara Malaysia
Sri Lanka
Financial Intelligence Unit of Sri Lanka
Kazakhstan
Committee on Financial Monitoring of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Australia
Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)
Turkey
Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK)
South Africa
Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) of South Africa
Turkmenistan
Financial Monitoring Service (FMS)
Iran
Financial Intelligence Unit of Iran
Malawi
Malawi Financial Intelligence Unit
China
China Anti-Money Laundering Monitoring and Analysis Centre (CAMLMAC)
United Arab Emirates
UAE Financial Intelligence Unit
Tajikistan
Financial Monitoring Department (FMD) Tajikistan
Seychelles
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Seychelles
Lebanon
Special Investigation Commission (SIC)
Indonesia
Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center
The FMU is striving for effective international cooperation by responding to international requests in timely manner and seeking information from other FIUs for its effective analysis and developing better financial intelligence reports for the LEAs. Further, FMU also encourages and provides ultimate support to other FIUs even in the absence of MOUs with protection of the confidentiality and use of the information. The FIUs may approach FMU for international cooperation requests and any other query relating to international cooperation through following email address: