Social Expenditure Major Part Of Armenia’s On-Budget Expenditures Ne

SOCIAL EXPENDITURE MAJOR PART OF ARMENIA’S ON-BUDGET EXPENDITURES NEXT YEAR

ARKA
Oct 27, 2008

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. Social expenditures will form a major
part of Armenia’s on-budget expenditures, next year, RA Premier Tigran
Sargsyan stated at a discussion of the 2009 draft budget at a joint
meeting of parliamentary commissions.

The share of education, public health and social security will be
47.2% of the total on-budget expenditures next year, he said. The
Premier pointed out that a total of 441bln AMD will be allocated to
the sectors, exclusive administrative expenditures – an increase of
69bln AMD as compared with this year.

The RA Premier also reported that a total of 126bln AMD will be
allocated to the education system – an increase of 23bln AMD or 22.2%
as compared with this year.

"It will allow us to raise the wages of teachers, administrative and
auxiliary personnel," T. Sargsyan said.

Specifically, the rate of teachers’ monthly salaries, inclusive
of salary supplements, will be 116,300 AMD against the current
89,000. The monthly salary of administrative personnel will be raised
up to 176,000 AMD against the current 136,000 AMD.

"We ensure higher rates of increase in the education sector as compared
with the others," T. Sargsyan said.

He reported that a total of 65nlm AMD are budgeted for the health
system – an increase of 11.5bln AMD or 21%.

"Free primary medical service remains a priority for us. The country’s
entire population will be involved, with only dental services to be
free for certain population groups," the Premier said.

T. Sargsyan pointed out that the average monthly salary of medical
personnel will be raised. Specifically, the salary of doctors in
outpatient clinics will be raised up to 93,000 AMD against the current
77,000 AMD, and that of paramedical personnel up to 60,000 AMD against
the current 49,000 AMD.

Hospital doctors will receive 66,000 AMD against the current 51,000
AMD, and the paramedical personnel 52,000 AMD against 42,000 AMD.

Armenia’s on-budget social expenditures are to total 250bln AMD next
year – an increase of 34bln AMD or 16% as compared with this year.

The Premier pointed out that the RA Government will continue raising
the minimum monthly wages, which will reach 30,000 AMD next year –
an increase of 20% and more as compared with this year.

The monthly family allowance will be raised up to 23,600 AMD against
the current 21,000 AMD.

The benefits for the birth of the third and every next child will be
raised as well.

Lump-sum grants for each child will be raised up to 43,000 AMD against
the current 300,000 AMD. Besides, the funds will be provided to all
families, not only to socially vulnerable ones.

A total of 181bln AMD are budgeted for pensions next year – an increase
of 15% as compared with this year.

The average monthly retirement pension will be raised up to 25,500
AMD against 21,800 AMD this year. Officers and their families will
receive 47,000 ANSD – an increase of 10%.

A total of 1.6bln AMD are budgeted for the compensation of deposits
frozen at the Savingsbank against 1.3bln AMD this year.

In 2009, the revenues of Armenia’s consolidated budgeted are to
total 927bln AMD, expenses 967bln AMD, with the budgeted deficit
being 40bln AMD.

The budgeted exchange rate is 302.4 AMD/$1. The budgeted GDP is 9.2%
(10% this year), with the inflation rate being 4% (±1.5%)

–Boundary_(ID_hO0Zj2nNBygIOxv ZZSAC3Q)–