DUSHANBE, November 12, 2008, Asia-Plus — The lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of the parliament has approved the state budget for 2009. Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov said that the national budget for 2009 stood at 6.008 billion somoni.
A regular sitting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the third convocation, presided over by its chairman, Saydullo Khairulloyev, was held on November 12.
The draft law of Tajikistan “On the National Budget of Tajikistan for 2009” was the major topic of the sitting.
Najmuddinov noted that the state budget for 2009 reflects the economic development of the country and gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to rise 7.1 percent next year to 20.665 billion somoni, while Inflation rate is expected to be 13 percent.
According to him, the national budget for 2009 stands at 6.008 billion somoni, which is 29 percent of GDP and 1.5 billion somoni more than the 2008 national budget.
“This year, an average monthly receipt of funds to the national budget has amounted to 254 million somoni, while next year, the average receipt of funds to the budget is expected to amount to 380 million somoni,” the minister said.
Najmuddinov noted that the budget earmarked 533 million somoni for construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS) and 21.3 million somoni for construction of the Snagtuda-2 hydropower plant.
The budget projects expenditure of 353 million somoni in the agrarian sector.
In 2009, 488 million somoni is expected to be spent on the transportation-communication system.
The budget earmarks 1.16 billion somoni for the education sector and projects expenditure of 396 million somoni in the health sector.
In 2009, 937 million somoni is expected to be spent on the social protection sphere.
Compared to this year expenditures on the defense and law enforcement system have increased by 47 percent, the minister said.
Expenditures on keeping Tajik diplomatic missions and consulates are projected to be 74 million somoni.
As it had been reported earlier, the government considered and endorsed the draft budget for 2009 at a September 30 session. Speaking at the meeting, the president noted that spending on development of real sector and construction of facilities of statewide importance, including power plants, power grids, industrial enterprises, as well as roads and tunnels, would account for more than 50 percent of budget allocations. Rahmon added that the budget projects expenditure of 2.437 billion somoni in the social sector, including enhancement of education and health sectors and social protection of the population.
