DUSHANBE, July 1, 2014, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday held a meeting to discuss the plan of work of the government in the second half-year of 2014.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the meeting also discussed and endorsed the forecast for principal microeconomic indicators for 2015-2017.

Under this document, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to stand at 52.8 billion somoni in 2015 and its growth rate will be 7.2 percent.  In 2016, GDP is also expected to rise 7.2 percent and to reach 60 billion somoni.  In 2017, GDP is expected to rise 7.4 percent to reach 68.4 billion somoni.

This year, GDP is expected to reach 46.3 billion somoni and its growth rate will be 7.1 percent.

In 2015, inflation is expected to stand at 7.5 percent and an average exchange rate of the national currency, the somoni, against the dollar will stand at 5:1.  In 2016 and 2017, the average exchange rate of the somoni against the dollar will stand at 5.05:1 and 5.1:1 respectively.

The head of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs reported on the implementation of the football development program designed for 2012-2016.

The meeting also discussed the draft national English and Russian language improvement program designed for 2015-2020.

The meeting discussed and endorsed the national information and communication technology introduction program designed for 2014-2017.

Speaking at the meeting, President Rahmon expressed concern about artificial rise in prices of food products, especially meat, during the holy month of Ramadan and ordered to investigate the reason for high prices for basic food products.