Exemption permit requests for imports cross 2,000

Muscat: Over 2,000 exemption permits for imported industrial materials were issued in the first half of the year.

 The Bayan system recorded 2,549 applications for type (B) permits -- to obtain an exemption for imported industrial materials in favour of GCC countries, an increase of 0.83 per cent, compared to last year's 2,528, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

"The number of applications of custom exemption for equipment, spare parts and raw materials reached 52 during the first half of the year, a 36.8 per cent increase over 38 applications last year," said Engineer Mohammed bin Said Al Mahrouqi, Head of Customs Exemption Department, Directorate General of Industry, at the ministry.

He added that the number of approvals for new and renewed requests for customs exemption saw an increase of 27.6 percent, touching 226 requests, compared to 177 requests last year.