Govt. requests special parliament sitting to discuss 2014 draft budget

PanARMENIAN.Net - The government of Armenia requested the parliament speaker to organize a special sitting on December 10, with the 2014 state budget among issues on agenda, Aysor.am reported.

As the chair of the Republican Union of Employers Gagik Makaryan told a news conference, in Armenia, the 2014 budget expenditures must be linked to certain governmental programs to boost control of the budget execution.

He also noted that in 2014, the government is planning to up budget inpayments by AMD 34 billion to secure the planned increase in salaries and pensions. Such inpayments will be provided through crackdown on shadow economies and increase of tax burden for major business entities.

The draft budget also envisages the deficit growth to AMD 115,5 billion, up from AMD 110 billion. Makaryan also expressed concern over Armenia's state debt, which will determine the dynamics of growth, especially in the Q2.

The Union chief also foretold some difficulties for small and medium businesses in view of the empirical and cluster nature of the state policy in the sector, rather than systemic one.

In conclusion, Makaryan spoke about organization of state purchases, which, if effective, can provide minimal stability in development of production.