Officials from the Tax Authority and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) are due to meet next week to discuss further exemptions from the Value-Added Tax (VAT) for suppliers to international oil companies (IOCs), Tax Authority Deputy Head Mohamed Abdel Sattar said. Discussions will include the goods and services that will be VAT-exempt in the oil exploration and production sector. The meeting comes after IOCs had filed complaints that their suppliers pay the tax, which translates into higher costs. Meanwhile, IOCs are exempt from the tax under the terms of their production-sharing agreement with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC). (Al Borsa)