Kuwait Parliament Stalls Joining GCC Tax Pact on Harmful Commodities

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 28: The Assembly rejected the request of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for National Assembly and Cabinet Affairs Essa Al-Kandari for the Parliament to approve the joining of Kuwait to the GCC agreement to impose tax on harmful commodities. The government then decided to withdraw the request, because MPs rejected all kinds of taxes.

Moreover, the Assembly discussed the 11th report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee on the proposed amendment of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Law. Rapporteur of the committee MP Dawoud Maarefidisclosed this proposal is aimed at expanding the commerce and industry minister’s control over the KCCI, specifying conditions for the chamber to receive donations from foreign entities, specifying ways to spend the cash of KCCI, and making the KCCI membership optional rather than mandatory.

Minister of Commerce and Industry and State Minister for Youth Affairs Muhammad Al-Aiban stressed this proposal is considered a political turning point and one of the fruits of the government-parliament cooperation. He pointed out that according to the proposal, it is allowed to dismiss the Board of Directors of KCCI and the chamber will be under the full supervision of the government. MP Hassan Jawhar said the current version of the law gives KCCI full control over the entire State, indicating that KCCI adopted the feudal system. He stressed the need to obligate KCCI to refund all the money it collected illegally.

MP Adel Al Damkhi said KCCI is a State within a State as it controls both the executive and legislative authorities. He believes the revised version of the law will keep the traders away from decision-making, clarifying not all traders are corrupt.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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