Annual foreign currency allowances have increased and are now offered to all businessmen. The foreign investors benefit from free transfer of their profits and of the proceeds of the sale of equity. Foreign trade control is very limited. This administered by the Minister of Trade, in consultation with the Central Bank, for products that are subject to import or export prohibition or liberalisation, as well as for imports subject to quotas in accordance with the government's overall programme and its trade agreements with foreign countries. The Ministry of Trade, with the endorsement of the Central Bank, issues import and export licences.
Import licences are valid for six months.
In some cases, this period may be extended. Import regulations have been relaxed considerably to stimulate economic expansion, based on the export of manufactured goods. Authorised goods may be imported under an import license, annual import authorisation or an import card. Importers must receive a customs code number before they can obtain an import certificate, an import authorisation, an import licence or an import card for controlled products. Samples of no commercial value are admitted free of import duty, customs formality tax and production tax.