FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2011 (SSNA) — The Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning, Republic of South Sudan (RSS), will tomorrow convene a meeting with the finance ministers of all ten states of South Sudan in Juba to review an agreement to simplify and harmonize revenue collection across South Sudan. Besides harmonizing collections and ensuring fair allocation of resources, the agreement aims to eliminate the current system of multiple roadblocks, checkpoints and fee collection along the roads and transport corridors of South Sudan,
The new approach aims to make it easier and more affordable to get food, goods and services to the people of South Sudan. “Many checkpoints and roadblocks are unofficial,” Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said that the money does not go into the government account and the people are not benefiting. By ending unofficial collections, it will be easier and less expensive to do business in South Sudan. That should mean lower prices at the market, more jobs and better choices of goods to buy. It also means that revenue that is collected legally will go to the government account where it belongs. This is an urgent priority.”
Vice President Riek Machar Teny is scheduled to open the Wednesday session. Formed in November 2010 and comprising the finance ministers of all ten states, the Task Force has analyzed in depth the economic effects of multiple, unregulated fees on businesses and has made urgent recommendations to fully implement the Tax Act of 2009. The discussions will conclude on Thursday, November 10, at the Nile Beach Hotel in Juba.
About the Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in the Republic of South Sudan develops and implements legislation and regulations, including those for Public Financial Management, Tax and Revenue Collection, Procurement and other legislations as required. It develops and executes sound economic and fiscal policies for South Sudan. Additionally, the Ministry implements a sound public financial management system and manages the RSS Consolidated Fund, develops and executes revenue policy for taxes and other sources of revenue, and collects tax revenues within the purview of RSS. For a complete description of the Ministry’s tasking, see the official Republic of South Sudan website at www.goss.org.
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