Egypt aims to raise its revenues from taxes imposed on tobacco by 7 billion Egyptian pounds ($395.50 million) in the 2018/2019 financial year, which start in July 2018, a government document said. According to a government's document, the country is targeting around 58.524 billion pounds ($3.10 billion) in revenues from tobacco taxes. Egypt has been increasing taxes and cutting subsidies to narrow its budget deficit as part of economic reforms tied to a $12 billion International Monetary Fund programme aimed at reviving the economy. The Egyptian government is set to collect 51.452 billion pounds in revenues from tobacco taxes this financial year 2017/2018. Egypt imposed a valued-added tax on non-essential goods last year in the months leading to its signing of the three-year IMF deal in November. 20.2 percent of Egyptians above the age of 15 are smokers, according to 2016 statistics of state statistics body CAPMAS. Source: Reuters
