Government to discuss 2014 draft budget at special meeting

PanARMENIAN.Net - The government of Armenia will convene a special meeting on September 28 to discuss the 2014 draft budget, the Minister-Chief of Government Staff Vache Gabrielyan said.

At a September 13 sitting, the government took into consideration preliminary highlights of the 2014 state budget.

According to the draft budget, the expenditures will total AMD 1 trillion 272 bn, with the revenue set up at AMD 1 trillion 145 bn; the increase in figures against the 2013 will be provided through increasing the income tax.

The budget deficit for 2014 will be set at AMD 130 bn against AMD 120 bn in 2013.

Also, according to the September 17 discussions, the following sums will be allocated out of budget expenditures: Agriculture Ministry will receive 5 bn 188 mln, Transport and Communication Ministry - 7 bn 612 mln, Economy Ministry - 1 bn 406 mln, IT sectors – AMD 80 mln, National Competitiveness Foundation – 260 mln.

Financing will also be extended for development of the sectors of education, culture, youth programs.

Social protection expenditures will total AMD 346 bn 923 mln, with financing to be allocated to Nature Protection Ministry, Ministry of Energy, among others.

Defence expenditures will total AMD 229 bn 219 mln, with the sums to be divided between Defense Ministry, Police and National Security Service.