Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament has enhanced the bill on amendments proposed to the country’s laws on the national budget for 2021. The amendments provide for exempting the Agency on State Material Reserves from paying value added tax (VAT), excise tax and customs duties on food and fuel deliveries.
A regular sitting of the second session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the sixth convocation, presided over by its head, Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda, took place on March 31.
Presenting the bill to lawmakers, Deputy Finance Minister Karim Gulmurodzoda noted that the tax benefits were granted to the Agency for the purpose of curbing prices for gasoline and basic food products in the country.
The share of Agency on State Material Reserves in the country’s fuel market is even less than 20 percent, while according to Tajikistan’s legislation, only companies controlling 35 percent of market are put on the register of monopolists.
The main fuel suppliers in Tajikistan are Gazpromneft-Tajikistan and Seganja with a total share of some 70 percent in the country’s fuel market.
More than 50 countries in Tajikistan are engaged in delivering petroleum products to the country.
Recall, a spike in fuel prices that was reported in Tajikistan in early March has led to increase in prices for basic food products in Tajikistan.