DUSHANBE, July 31, Asia-Plus — Government considered more than 30 issues at a July 31 session presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, presidential press service said.
President Rahmon noted that Tajikistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose more than 7 percent in the year to July 1, 2007, reaching 4.79 billion somonis.
“According to prognosis, GDP is expected to have reached 12.2 billion somonis by the end of the year,” the head of state said, noting that to provide sustainable economic development it is necessary to provide not less than a 7 percent increase of GDP per year, curb inflation at the level of 7%-8% and secure a minimal depreciation of national currency.
“These measures will allow increasing GDP’s volume up to 14.8 billion somonis in 2008,” Rahmon said.
According to presidential press service, a draft national budget for 2008 was one major topics of the meeting. The president said that it is supposed to stand at 4.312 billion somonis, which 845 million somonis or 24.4 percent more than the budget for this year.
According to him, the revenue part of the budget for 2008 will include 470 million somonis in centralized investments, which almost doubles the 2007 level.
The session also considered and endorsed bills requiring amendments to a number of the present laws.
The government also approved bilateral government-to-government agreements signed with Syria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Georgia.
Besides, the session considered and endorsed a national program on publishing textbooks designed for 2007-2010, a cotton processing program for 2007-2015, and rules of registration and keeping of precious metals and precious stones.
Participants at the session also discuss a medium-term strategy of development of Tajikistan’s banking system for the period till 2009, and President Rahmon ordered to review it.
The president stressed that had taken construction of new cotton-ginning factories under his personal control and demanded at the meeting that he should have quarterly report on a progress of construction of them.
The session also considered issues related to taking adequate measures to ensure the regular work of the country”s economy during autumn-winter 2007-2008 and mitigating effects natural disasters in Asht and Rasht districts.
The president also set the task to reintroduce the Yovon heat and power plant into operation by November 1 and take measures to stock up enough coal, liquefied gas and fuel oil for the winter.
He also urged to intensify fights against monopolization of consumer market and regulate prices of consumer goods.
Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov is to submit report on a progress of mitigation of effects of the natural disasters in Asht and Rasht districts every ten days.
