Muscat: The Minister of Commerce and Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) said its decision 386/2022 on the mandatory provision of electronic payment services to consumers will be implemented today.

According to the MoCIIP decision on April 17th, all commercial institutions and companies that did not adhere to the e-payment services in the following categories will be penalized.

According to Article (1) all activities including foodstuff, gold, silver, vegetables and fruit vendors, restaurants and cafes, electronics, building materials, tobacco products, industrial zones, malls, complexes and gift markets must provide electronic payments to all its consumers.

The Ministry also affirmed that the consumers have the choice to pay electronically or by cash despite the mandate. This mandate is to enhance the digital transformation integration between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Investment Promotion, CBO, OCCI, and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and IT.