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MOGADISHU — The federal government of Somalia has suspended the collection of taxes on basic commodities from traders for the next three months over the new coronavirus pandemic.
Somalia’s minister of Finance Abdirahman Beileh said that the government’s revenue department will not collect taxes from traders for the next three months, due to the deadly pandemic which has halted business activities in the country and brought major health crisis in several countries.
The minister added that the food products that were proposed for tax exemption include rice, palm, and other basic commodities as the government seeks to mitigate a possible scarcity or price surge on food items.
The government has also reduced vat of 50% imposed on wheat flour, oil, and other commercial products in order to ease the cost of living for the vulnerable sectors of the society amid increasing economic hardships exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tax exemptions will take effect on 15 April and is meant to cushion citizens against the increase in prices of consumer goods ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
Somalia has been economically hit since the outbreak of the pandemic coronavirus in Wuhan, China late last year.
The East African country has suspended international flights including those carrying khat, as a part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the country has recently confirmed 37 new cases of the novel Coronavirus, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 62.
According to previous statement by the ministry of health, two patients recovered from the virus.
The country also lost two people to the virus including HirShabelle Justice Minister Khalif Mumin who died of COVID-19 Sunday after he was transferred to Mogadishu from Jowhar.
Source: Mustaqbal Radio Origin: View original
