DRC government will abolish 14 levies and reduce 20 others to improve the business climate

The file relating to the identification of arbitrary levies was adopted by the government at the 61st meeting of the Council of Ministers on Friday July 8, 2022. This, within the framework of the government reform on the improvement of the business climate in the Republic Congo Democratic.

In his presentation, the Minister of Foreign Trade Jean-Lucien Bussa indicated that one of the missions assigned to him is the identification of arbitrary levies with a view to rationalizing import and export taxes and reducing costs. and deadlines.

“He indicated that the motivation behind this assignment is to improve the competitiveness of our economy, to ensure the well-being of the population given that economic operators have the ability to transfer to consumers the burden of a tax by manipulating the prices they control, but also to ensure a better attractiveness of our country”, he explained in the report of the meeting made by the government spokesperson.

In execution of this action, he continued, the Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) drew up, for his attention, a list of 67 levies which it described as arbitrary, excessive, inappropriate. or without grounds claimed by the State services during the import and export operations of goods.

He maintained that this list has been combed through with the delegates of the institutions, ministries and those of the public establishments and bodies concerned.

“At the end of this review, three recommendations were made by the stakeholders. These are respectively: – The outright elimination of fourteen (14) collections; – The reduction of twenty (20) collections with a view to lighten the burdens of economic operators even slightly while maintaining the financial balance of beneficiary structures with a public utility mission; – The maintenance of thirty-three (33) levies A series of measures will be taken to support the implementation of these recommendations”, added Jean-Lucien Bussa according to the minutes of the meeting.

Improving the business climate in the DRC is one of the main priorities of the Tshisekedi administration. He says he pays particular attention to it in order to attract investors.