Armenian government earmarks significant rise in 2023 spending program

YEREVAN, June 30. /ARKA/. Armenian Finance Minister Tigran Khachatryan said at Thursday's government session that the government’s social spending budget for 2023 will be raised by 65 billion drams or 11.3% compared to 2022 budget, which will enable to increase pensions, benefits and salaries of social workers.

He specified that 33bln drams will be earmarked for raising pensions and 16.5bln drams for improvement of demographic situation.

The minister noted that additional financial means -17.3 billion drams- will be allocated for raising the salaries of social workers.

"In 2023, the financing for health sector will exceed the 2022 figure by 22.3 billion drams or 18.6%. Operating expenses will grow by 17.2 billion drams and capital expenses by 5.1 billion drams compared to 2022," he stressed.

He said education sector’s budget will rise by 31.6 billion drams –the current spending will rise by 18.3 billion drams and capital spending by 13.3 billion drams. Science in 2023 will be allocated 36.3 billion drams, 6.2 billion drams more than in 2022.

"As for the development of production infrastructures, roads, transport, irrigation and energy systems, some 30 billion drams more are envisaged for the construction of North-South highway, repair of water reservoirs and irrigation systems,’ he said.

Khachatryan said also that 22 billion drams are envisaged for co-financing subvention projects, which is 4 billion drams or 22% more than in 2022.

He also said the amount of support to Nagorno-Karabakh will be at this year’s level of 144 billion drams. ($1 - 408.31 drams). -0-