5 Jul 2010

Fiji Consumer Council welcomes revised budget

2:55 pm on 5 July 2010

Fiji's Consumer Council has applauded the interim government's revised 2010 budget, saying it will benefit many consumers.

The council's CEO Premila Kumar says measures to help lower socio economic groups remain in place, such as food vouchers and free text books for school children.

And she says she's pleased that there hasn't been an increase in Value Added Tax.

She says a drop in import duty on new buses means there will be newer fleets, and a drop in import duty on small motor vehicles makes buying a new car more affordable.

"When I looked the budget itself after our analysis, we felt that the budget was very logical; it was well thought out budget and there was quite a bit for consumers."

Premila Kumar says the rise in duty for imported fresh vegetables going up from five percent to 15 percent targets mainly tourists and foreigners who can afford it.