Government Lifts Sur Tax On Edible Oil, Soap

30 March, 2008

Addis Ababa, March 28, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - The government has lifted all types of tax imposed on cooking oil and sur tax on soap as of Saturday, the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced.

Trade and Industry Minister Girma Birru said in a news conference he gave here on Friday that the lifting of the tax on cooking oil alone would cost the government an estimated 400-500 million Birr.

He further said the government has been striving to address the problem of the rise in cost of living.

Lifting of different tax titles and increase the supply of consumption goods are some of the measures being taken by the government to stabilize market.

Girma said the government would import 1.5 million quintals of sugar of which 400,000 quintals would distributed in April this year alone.

He further said the Ministry is also under preparation to import cooking oil worth over 300 million Birr with an intention of raising supply.

The government would also import 400,000 quintals of wheat to be distributed among users, Girma said.

He said that a task force was established in Addis and various regional States with a view to monitoring the implementation of the steps taken to regulate the price hike.

The action to be taken on illegal bodies would not be new, it would base on the trade rules and regulations of the country.

The Minister said that legal action was also taken on black market, which hampered a stable foreign trade activity.

The economic corrective actions taken by the government has won the support of the public and legal businesspeople. (ENA)