DUSHANBE, April 30, 2009, Asia-Plus -- Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have endorsed changes to the law on the national budget for 2009.

A regular sitting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the third convocation, presided over by its speaker, Saydullo Khairulloyev, was held on April 30.

Speaking at the meeting, Finance Minister Safarali Najmiddinov noted that at first, the ministry had wanted to reduce the budget by some 900 million somoni.

“However, we have reached an agreement with a number international financial institutions on provision by them of 208 million somoni to Tajikistan as direct support to the country’s national budget under conditions of the global economic crisis,” said the minister, “Besides, we plan to receive some 25 million somoni from introduction of water royalty, and therefore, we now propose to reduce this year’s budget by 699 million somoni.”

According to him, after making necessary changes to the budget, its revenue part will stand at 2.575 billion somoni and its expenditure part will stand at some 2.7 billion somoni and the budget deficit will amount to 125 million somoni.

“The budget reduction will lead to suspension of construction of minor facilities and expenditures on the public management institutions will also be reduced,” Najmiddinov said, noting that reductions will not affect social sector.

Parliamentarians voted for adoption of the anticrisis budget unanimously.  They also endorsed amendments to the tax code requiring reduction of VAT from 20 to 18 percent and income tax from 25 to 15 percent.