DUSHANBE, November 19, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) has approved the national budget for 2015.  Tajik finance minister said the 2015 national budget indicators reflect the economic and social development of the country. 

A regular sitting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its chairman, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on November 19.

In his speech Finance Minister Abduslom Qurbonov noted that Tajikistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to stand at more than 52.8 billion somoni in 2015 and inflation is expected to stand at 7.5 percent.

The revenue part of the national budget for 2015 is reportedly projected to stand at 15.278 billion somoni, which is 1.377 billion somoni or 10 percent more than more than the indicators of the national budget for 2014.

Social spending will account for more than 50 percent of budget allocations, which is reportedly 17 percent more than this year.

400 million somoni are expected to be spent next year to raise rates of wages, pensions and student grants.

The budget projects expenditure of 13 million somoni for implementation of the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000) and 20 million somoni for construction of the second line of the Dushanbe -2 combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

The budget also earmarks 20 million for modernization of the Qairoqqum hydroelectric power plant (HHP).

Besides, 873.1 million are expected to be spent in 2015 for serving the country’s external debt.