Majlis sends bill on Import Export Act to committee

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

People’s Majlis yesterday accepted the amendment bill on Maldives Import Export Act proposed by the government and has sent the bill to economic affairs committee of the Majlis.

After wide and extensive deliberations on the bill in the past 3 days, the bill was finally put to vote to ascertain whether the bill be accepted or rejected. The bill was accepted unanimously with 66 members voting in favor.65 members voted in favor of sending the bill to Majlis economic affairs committee.

During the debate of the bill, proposed by the government to reduce import tax levied on essential goods and diesel, members expressed the need to include cooking gas and equipments imported for agricultural development in this list of tax exempt items proposed by government. Members also expressed that baby foods should also be included in the tax exempt list in order to bring the market prices down to levels accessible by the people.

When the floor was opened for debate on the bill, MP for Alif Alif Mathiveri region Hussain Mohamed expressed support for the bill saying that the bill would being benefits to the people. He expressed support to waive off import tariffs on essential food items, baby foods and diesel. He said the reduction in imports tariffs levied by the government would bring the market prices down to appreciable levels and would pave way for a much lower cost of living.

MP for Kurendhoo region Ahmed Moosa said the proposal to waive or reduce import tariff on meat, not usually consumed by Maldivians, indicates undue influence from traders. Some members also raised concern on the government’s proposal to reduce import tariff on meats and wanted to know whether the intent of the bill was to promote the business of these businessmen.

MP for Mahibadhoo region Rugiyya Mohamed expressed that this bill would help bring the market prices down to levels accessible by the people. She also said one of the objectives of the amendment bill was to increase the money going in to people pockets.

Members who spoke on the bill generally agreed that the bill would prove beneficial to the people. Members, however, noted certain aspects of the bill which may have detrimental effects on the economy and called on for deep and full consideration of the bill.

MP for Galholu east region Eva Abdulla expressed that the amendment bill was directly linked to this year’s state budget. She also said it would difficult to make amendments to this bill without consideration to other fiscal bills as the bill directly connected to consumers.

Responding members’ questions on the bill, on behalf of the government, Attorney General Husnu Suood said members comments were useful and should be incorporated in to the bill.

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