Africa-Press – Cape verde. Ice for preserving fish will, from December 1st, become more expensive due to the application of Value Added Tax (VAT) of 15 percent (%) on the current price.
The information was provided to Inforpress today by the President of the Association of Shipowners of the Praia Fishing Pier, Samora Barros, following a meeting of shipowners from all islands in the country, held today in the city of Praia, to analyze the issue of applying the VAT on ice and other aspects that affect the fishing sector in Cape Verde.
Samora Barros explained that the measure always existed, but that it was not applied. However, he indicated that the Ministry of Finance recently issued a circular mandating the collection of VAT on ice, which will end up making the product more expensive.
“We regret it because the moment we are going through is already difficult and it will become even more difficult for all those who work in the fishing sector because the amount to be paid for the ice will be higher”, he said.
As he said, at the Praia fishing pier, under the responsibility of the company Cabo Verde Ocean, a kilogram of ice is currently sold for 18 escudos, and with the application of VAT the amount to be paid will increase to 21 escudos.
Currently the price of ice varies from region to region or island to island. For example, in Praia it is sold for 18 escudos, in Santa Cruz for 16 escudos, in São Vicente for 20 escudos, with different prices for other regions or islands.
Shipowners want the price of ice to be unique, but according to Samora Barros, defining a single value for the sale of ice will only be possible after carrying out a study to define the amount per kilogram.
However, the guidance that emerged from today’s meeting is that from December 1st, all structures that produce and sell ice for the conservation of fish must apply VAT.
For now, the current price will be maintained, with only a 15% increase, which is the amount that must be refunded to the State.
“This is not about money for companies. The money is to be returned to the State and we have to collect it because otherwise we run the risk of being fined or being forced to return money that we did not collect,” she explained.
During the meeting, which was attended by the president of the National Association of Shipowners, fishing operators highlighted the need to build a trawler or shipyard for the repair of artisanal and semi-industrial vessels, with the aim of encouraging private investment in the sector. and increase the sector’s contribution to the national economy
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