DUSHANBE, 27.10.2020 (NIAT Khovar) –    The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon presided over a session of the government.

The main subject on the meeting’s agenda was the draft law On the State Budget for 2020, its forecast income for 2022-2023, and the debt program for 2021 and its indicators for 2022 – 2023.

The total revenue for 2021 is expected to be 27.6 billion somoni, an increase of 1.6 billion or 6.1% on estimated revenue in 2020. Preliminary fulfillment of state budget current revenues for 2021 is estimated at 20.5 billion somoni.

Preliminary fulfillment of state budget current revenues from tax sources is expected to be 18.8 billion somoni with an increase of 890 million somoni. Non-tax revenues are expected to be 1.4 billion somoni with an increase of 110 million somoni, and involvement of grants estimated for 2021 with the amount of 300 million somoni.

Share of total expenditure of state budget is expected to be 28.1 billion in 2021. Despite the impact of internal and external factors on the national economy and the significant drop in state revenues this year, the government has increased salaries, pensions, and stipends from September 1, 2020.

Overall, the social-sector budget is expected to be 13.2 billion somoni, which is 47% of the total budget expenditures or 14.2% of GDP. Share of total expenditure of education sector is 5.6 billion of the total education sector budgets in 2021 and this number is 592 million more than the indicators as of 2020.  Social protection of the population is expected to be 4.2 billion somoni, which is an increase of 262.7 million somoni, while for culture and sports this is 1 billion somoni, which is an increase of 69.8 million somoni.

Despite the impact of internal and external factors on the national economy and expenditure budget definition due to the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is expecting an increase in the volume of funding in other sectors in 2021.

President Rahmon issued instructions to the ministries and relevant government agencies, executive bodies of state authorities regarding fulfillment of Tajikistan’s main macroeconomic indicators in the medium-term perspective, the indicators of state budget of Tajikistan for 2020 and its forecast income for 2022-2023, as well as anti-crisis programs and plans.

It should be worth noting that the Medium Term National Budget Planning aims to  implement strategically important state priorities, including breaking in the communication deadlock, achieving energy independence, ensuring food security, social protection and national security, and industrialization of the country.

The meeting participants also discussed a number of other issues. In part, the Mayor of Kulob Valizoda Abdukodir spoke about the implementation of the Resolution of the Government of Tajikistan dated December 31, 2014 about the Program of Social and Economic Development of Kulob for 2015-2019.

The mentioned program includes 262 projects worth a total of 1.46 billion somoni, including 237 million from the national budget, 5.8 million from the regional budget, 23 million from the local budget and 187 million from own funds, as well as contributions from domestic and foreign investments amounting to 592.6 million somoni.

The program implemented in the city so far are worth 578 million somoni in sectors of the economy, industry, agriculture, social protection of population, education, culture, healthcare, public utilities for drinking water supply, emergencies and resource provisions.

During the implementation of the program, 17 enterprises and workshops have been built and put into operation. Fourteen projects worth 6.9 million somoni are aimed at ensuring social welfare.

During the implementation of the program in all sectors of the national economy 14,742 new permanent and seasonal jobs have been created.

Other issues discussed included a number of bills, such as the draft laws on making changes and attenda to the law of the Republic of Tajikistan On State Registration of Acts of Civil Status, On Consumer Rights Protection, On Medicine and Pharmaceutical Activities, and On Land Management.

Government members also discussed other agenda of the meeting, in particular the concept of managing the development of agro-industrial clusters through 2040, the development of pharmaceutical and medical industry for 2021-2025, as well as on handicraft development for 2021-2025.

At the end of the meeting, President Rahmon called for the timely fulfillment of the set tasks and instructed government members to eliminate shortcomings.