Parliament passes bill on reducing import duty on motorcycles, garments

A Bill of Amendment to the Import-Export Act to reduce import duty on motorcycles and garments, has been passed by the parliament.

The amendment also requires reimbursement of the increased import duty charged on these items from 1 April 2015.

The bill, passed with 46 votes in favour, proposes to reduce import duty on motorcycles from 150 percent to 100 percent, and to remove import duty on garments.

MP Jameel Usman, who submitted the bill to the parliament on behalf of the government, said that it aims to make commodities more affordable, and is part of President Abdulla Yameen’s economic policy.