DUSHANBE, October 31, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Next year, funds for creation of government reserves will nearly double.

Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov remarked this yesterday while speaking at an enlarged meeting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Economy, Budget, Finance and Taxes.

According to him, the government has allocated some 26 million somoni this year for creation of reserves of grains, fuel ad building materials.  “Next year, the government will provide more than 50 million somoni for creation of the government reserves,” the minister said.

“The government reserves have allowed mitigating effects of the global food crisis,” said Najmuddinov, “By providing domestic market with flour and wheat from the government reserves we have managed to lower their prices to a certain extent.”  

            Najmuddinov added that fuel from the government reserves has been used during the autumn sowing campaign.  “The government reserve fuel that has been sold to farmers 5 percent cheaper has helped carry out sowing campaign opportunely,” the minister said.