Hariri Receives Economic Bodies
Prime Minister Saad Hariri met at the Center House with a delegation from the economic bodies, headed by President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon Mohamed Choucair, who presented to him a document containing their observations on the government’s draft regarding the tax hikes law.
After Monday's meeting, Choucair said: “Our meeting with Prime Minister Hariri was good and he understands the concerns of the economic bodies. We submitted our suggestions concerning law 45 and we will meet this week with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil.”
He added: “I think the suggestions that we submitted to Hariri are good. The basic point rejected by the economic bodies is the double taxation, article 17 of law 45, because it is against the Constitution and affects not only the Lebanese banks but all the Lebanese institutions whether banking, financial, industrial or commercial.”
Choucair said: “We are calling on the citizens of the Gulf to return and invest in Lebanon. The Central Bank is establishing funds for the Lebanese expatriates, but who will invest in Lebanon while seeing all these taxes, with also the double taxation?”
He explained that this is rejected and consultations will continue with everybody to reach a solution that is in the national interest.
In response to a question, Choucair said that in the last four years, 388 factories closed down and exports have fallen by 30%.
Source: Naharnet
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