Parliament approves Georgian state budget for 2013

Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 21 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia / On Thursday the Georgian Parliament by 80 votes approved the state budget for 2013. As the government claims, the promises of the Georgian Dream will be fulfilled according to the budget. The parliamentary minority which temporarily interrupted its work in parliament did not participate in the discussion of the state budget and voting. Next year the budget revenues will amount to 7.422 billion lari, while expenditures will stand at 7.255 billion which exceeds the indicators of the budget for 2012, increased to 7.158 billion lari and 6.882 billion lari respectively due to changes which took place at the beginning of the week. It is planned to raise 6.920 billion lari of tax revenue which is 620 million lari more than this year's figure. Reception of 202.5 million worth of grants and 300 million worth of other income, including 100 million lari worth of privatisation funds is planned. Compared with the previous version of the draft budget, the funding volumes of some ministries have been changed including government funding of the Defence and Interior Ministries being reduced, with the saved resources to be used mainly to increase funding for health, education and agriculture. In 2013, the ministries will receive funding to the following amounts: The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Protection - 2.345 billion lari (2012 - 1.821 billion lari) The Ministry of Defence - 660 million lari (2012 - 730.6 million lari, 2011 - 711 million lari, 2010 - 728 million lari) The Interior Ministry - 570 million lari (2012 - 587.8 million lari, 2011 - 568 million lari, 2010 - 549.2 million lari) The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure - 901 million lari (2012 - 717.1 million lari) The Ministry of Education and Science - 670 million lari (2012 - 625.7 million lari) The Ministry of Agriculture - 241 million lari (2012 - 229.9 million lari) The Ministry of Finance - 100 million lari (2012 - 108.2 million lari) The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development - 82.5 million lari (2012 - 145.4 million lari) The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources - 118.7 million lari (2012 - 310.9 million lari) The Ministry of Justice - 67.6 million lari (2012 - 56.5 million lari); The Ministry of Corrections, Probation and Legal Aid - 174.3 million lari (2012 - 128.3 million lari) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs - 80 million lari (2012 - 82.8 million lari) The Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection - 80 million lari (2012 - 93 million lari); The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs - 47.2 million lari (2012 - 59.4 million lari); The Ministry of Environmental Protection - 27.2 million lari (2012 - 19.3 million lari); The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees - 48 million lari (2012 - 39.2 million lari) The Office of the State Minister for Reintegration Issues - 1.3 million lari (2012 - 1.2 million lari) The Office of the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration - 2.3 million lari (2012 - 2.3 million lari) The Office of the State Minister for Diaspora Issues - 850,000 lari, (2012 - 850,000 lari). Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az