DUSHANBE, November 9, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Committee and commissions of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) have begun consideration of a draft law on the national budget for 2013.

The Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs held an enlarged meeting to consider the draft national budget for 2013 on November 9.

Safarali Rajabov, Chairman of The Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, says the country’s national budget for 2013 is projected to stand at 12.1 billion somoni, which is 2 billion somoni more than the country’s budget for this year.  The budget deficit is expected to amount to 210.5 million somoni.

The national budget indicators reportedly reflect the economic and social development of the country.  In 2013, social spending is expected to amount to 6.4 billion somoni.   

“The government expects the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to stand at 42.1 billion somoni next year and the year-end inflation for 2013 is forecasted at 9.0 percent,” Rajabov said.

According to him, the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar vs. the Tajik national currency, the somoni, is expected to rise next year to 1:5.