Government has endorsed a draft budget for 2022.
The government session, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, took place on October 25. The draft law on the national budget for 2022 and forecast of state budget indicators for 2023-2024 were one of major topics of the session, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
Speaking at the meeting, Emomali Rahmon noted that the national budget for 2022 would aim at implementing the country’s social and economic policy ensuring sustainable development of the national economy and development of real infrastructure sector, improving living standards and social protection of the population, and reducing the impact of negative external and internal factors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The revenue part of the budget for 2022 is projected to stand at 32.8 billion somonis, which is 5.3 billion somonis or 18.6 percent more than revenues of the endorsed national budget for this year.
The budget expenditures are forecasted to stand at 33.4 billion somonis, which is 5.3 billion somonis more than the expenditures of the endorsed national budget for 2021.
Thus, the budget deficit will stand at 800 million somonis.
The 2022 budget indicators would reflect the economic and social development of the country. Social spending will account for 43.7 percent, which is reportedly equal to14 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
The head of state pointed to the necessity providing a balanced implementation of fiscal and monetary policy in such a sensitive period in order to reduce the impact of external factors, including the current international situation, coronavirus pandemic and climate change, on the country’s economy, the Tajik president’s official website said.
Meanwhile, international experts say Tajikistan’s budget is not transparent and the number of secret budget items has only grown in recent years. According to them, some budget documents in the country contain minimal information. Moreover, the budget process is reportedly characterized by a low level of public participation in its formation.
According to the Open Budget Index, Tajikistan with 17 points (insufficient or no transparency) out of a possible 100 ranks 101st out of 117 countries. At the same time, the world average is 45 points (limited transparency).
Tajikistan was included in the Open Budget Index in 2012, receiving only 17 out of a possible 100 points. The highest score of 30 (81st among 102 countries) was achieved in 2016.
