DUSHANBE, October 31, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan’s government has endorsed a draft national budget for 2007, presidential press service reported.
President Emomali Rahmonov presided over a meeting of the government on October 30. The meeting considered a number of personnel and financial issues, including the draft national budget for the next year.
Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov telling the meeting noted that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to rise 7.6 percent in 2007 to 9.55 billion somonis (equivalent to US $2.81 billion) while the inflation rate is expected to be at 7 percent.
The minister said that the country’s national budget for 2007 will be 3.195 billion somonis (equivalent to US $942.2 million) or 33.3 percent of GDP. Social spending will account for 49% (1.335 billion somonis) of budget allocations, which is 34 percent or 227 million somonis more than this year. The budget earmarks 15.5% (506 million somonis) for public education.
Najmuddinov said the budget projects expenditure of 344 million somonis on the social security sector, which is 25 percent or 68 million somonis more than this year.
The session approved the draft budget and sent it for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).
The government also endorsed a concept of vocational education in Tajikistan, youth program for 2007-2009, as well as national program of education and selection of leading personnel from among talented young women for 2007-2016.
The session also endorsed and sent for consideration to parliament a number of bills and agreements concluded between Tajikistan and other countries and international organizations, including the one between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan on training of personnel for Tajik border troops.
The government also passed a resolution on establishing the branch of Tajik Teachers’ Training University in the Rasht district.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Rahmonov reiterated that members of the government and other civil servants should not interfere in the work on preparations for the November 6 presidential election. He added that all necessary conditions should be created to ensure that the election is transparent, free and democratic.
