Armenian prime minister insists that 2020 draft budget is 'revolutionary'
18.11.2019,
16:21
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan insisted last Friday that his government's draft budget for 2020 is 'revolutionary.'
YEREVAN, November 18. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan insisted last Friday that his government's draft budget for 2020 is 'revolutionary.'
"When I was not prime minister, I publicly stated that within 1-2 years the budget of Armenia can or should be increased by 30-35%. This was one of the promises of the revolution. The draft budget for 2020 calls for 27. 4% rise in revenue as opposed to 2018," he said, speaking at a parliamentary debate on the draft budget.
Pashinyan said the capital expenditures in the draft budget for 2020 are 135.1% higher than the actual figure for 2018.
He also said the spending growth rate is 14 percent, twice of what was before the 2018 revolution. Pashinyan also said the amount earmarked in the draft budget for road construction and repair is what was earmarked by the budgets of 2015, 2016, 2017 combined. He added that the funds, earmarked for housing construction are 120% more than what was allocated in 2018.
The prime minister also said that health care spending is to grow next year by 39.5%, education's budget - by 34%, social welfare spending is to grow by 21%, defense - by 28% and environment protection by 41% compared to 2018.
“Will this change the lives of our citizens or not? How else does the life of people change?” The prime minister asked.
Pashinyan recalled also tax benefits that not only enhance the activities of entrepreneurs, but also have an impact on citizens.
He said starting January 1, 2020, as a result of tax reforms only, the wages of 230 thousand people in Armenia will increase.
'Considering how many people in the country have their salaries, pensions and benefits increased since July 1, 2018, we can say with confidence that this is a huge figure,” he said.
The draft budget for 2020 calls for 1.69 trillion drams in revenue and 1.88 trillion drams in spending. The projected deficit is 182.6 billion drams. ($1 - 477.57 drams). --0--
"When I was not prime minister, I publicly stated that within 1-2 years the budget of Armenia can or should be increased by 30-35%. This was one of the promises of the revolution. The draft budget for 2020 calls for 27. 4% rise in revenue as opposed to 2018," he said, speaking at a parliamentary debate on the draft budget.
Pashinyan said the capital expenditures in the draft budget for 2020 are 135.1% higher than the actual figure for 2018.
He also said the spending growth rate is 14 percent, twice of what was before the 2018 revolution. Pashinyan also said the amount earmarked in the draft budget for road construction and repair is what was earmarked by the budgets of 2015, 2016, 2017 combined. He added that the funds, earmarked for housing construction are 120% more than what was allocated in 2018.
The prime minister also said that health care spending is to grow next year by 39.5%, education's budget - by 34%, social welfare spending is to grow by 21%, defense - by 28% and environment protection by 41% compared to 2018.
“Will this change the lives of our citizens or not? How else does the life of people change?” The prime minister asked.
Pashinyan recalled also tax benefits that not only enhance the activities of entrepreneurs, but also have an impact on citizens.
He said starting January 1, 2020, as a result of tax reforms only, the wages of 230 thousand people in Armenia will increase.
'Considering how many people in the country have their salaries, pensions and benefits increased since July 1, 2018, we can say with confidence that this is a huge figure,” he said.
The draft budget for 2020 calls for 1.69 trillion drams in revenue and 1.88 trillion drams in spending. The projected deficit is 182.6 billion drams. ($1 - 477.57 drams). --0--
