A joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committees on Public Associations and Religious Organizations, Science and Education, Family, Women and Children, Health and Culture was held on November 12.

The Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis told AZERTAC that the draft law “On the State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022” was discussed in the first reading.

Opening the meeting with congratulatory speeches on the Constitution Day, Victory Day, State Flag Day, Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Chairman of the Committee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations Fazail Ibrahimli spoke about the importance of Azerbaijan’s Victory in the Patriotic War. Noting that for the first time in its 200-year history, Azerbaijan reclaimed its territories with a brilliant victory, the chairman of the committee said that the idea of ​​a “Greater Armenia” was destroyed. The Vice Speaker highlighted the leadership qualities of the head of state in his victory, his policy, the unity of the state and the people, the courage of our armed forces.

Emphasizing that economic development and the state budget, which is its driving force, are the basis of all these successes, Fazail Ibrahimli called the discussion of the draft law “On the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022” at today’s joint meeting of 5 committees.

Presenting the draft budget, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said that the state budget for 2022 proposes to increase budget expenditures for next year by 29 billion 879 million manat compared to last year. This is equal to 34.5 percent of projected GDP for next year. As in the current year, special attention was paid to the restoration and reconstruction of the liberated territories in the priority expenditures of the state budget next year.

At the same time, 4 billion 990 million manat has been allocated as a priority for further strengthening the defense capabilities of our Armed Forces, strengthening national security, deploying military units in the liberated territories, as well as reliable protection of state borders. It is equal to 15 percent.

It was noted that in order to organize the services of law enforcement agencies in these areas and create financial support for strengthening the social protection of servicemen, the state budget increased the expenditure fund by 761 million manat or 26.4 percent next year.

Another priority is to improve the welfare of the people and provide social protection. In 2022, social expenditures will increase by 1 billion 649 million manat or 13.5 percent compared to the current year and reach 13 billion 851 million manat. Thus, their share in the budget will be 46.4 percent.

In accordance with the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, the state budget for 2022 has provided 1 billion 440 million manat to increase salaries, pensions, social benefits and other social payments from January 1 next year.

Noting that education expenditures are among the priorities for the next year, the Minister said that a socio-economic development strategy for the next 5 years has been prepared in accordance with the “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development” approved by President Ilham Aliyev.

He noted that education is a special priority in these development priorities, adding that the draft budget allocated 3 billion 884 million manat (607 million manat or 18.5 percent more than this year) compared to previous years. He said that the charter capital of the newly established Student Credit Fund will be increased to 102 million manat to increase the access of the poor to higher education, and the number of students studying by state order in the next academic year will increase by 15,893 compared to the previous year.

It is also planned to increase the number of students studying at public expense to 2,569, and the number of students receiving scholarships to more than 12,000.

The funds allocated to stimulate the employment of young professionals in secondary schools in rural areas have also been increased by 50 percent.

It was noted that the budget envisages 203 million manat, which is 20 million manat more than in the current year.

He said that the funds allocated for health care in next year’s budget will remain a priority, which will amount to 1 billion 789 million manat (119 million manat more than the current year), most of which will be spent on the state’s obligations on compulsory health insurance.

Then the chairman of the Chamber of Accounts Vugar Gulmammadov presented the opinion of the chamber on the State Budget for 2022. It was noted that the opinion of the Chamber of Accounts on the draft State Budget for 2022 was submitted to parliament. The opinion analyzes the main parameters of the macro environment in which the budget will be implemented.

Vugar Gulmammadov noted that in addition to the risks indicated in the budget envelope, the opinion also contains detailed information on the additional fiscal risks identified by the Chamber of Accounts and its assessment.

At the joint meeting, the chairmen of the parliamentary committees on the draft State Budget for 2022 Ahliman Amiraslanov, Hijran Huseynova, Bakhtiyar Aliyev, Ganira Pashayeva, deputy chairmen of the committees Fazil Mustafa, Malahat Ibrahimgizi, Sahib Aliyev, deputies Etibar Aliyev, Shahin Seyidzade, Ilham Mammadov, Sevil Mikayilova, Soltan Mammadov, Rauf Aliyev, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva, Chairman of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Bahar Muradova, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli.

Speakers described the proposed state budget for 2022 as the winning budget of the winning country. They praised the increase in expenditures by sector. They expressed their views on increasing funding in some areas. They voiced their views and proposals on areas such as medical research, care for oncology patients, strengthening the pharmaceutical sector, strengthening the social protection of martyrs’ families, veterans, servicemen, children, improving the quality of science and education, supporting cultural spheres.

Then the Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov clarified the issues raised by the deputies and answered their questions.

At the end of the discussions, the draft law “On the State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022” was recommended to the plenary session of the Milli Majlis for discussion in the first reading.

Source: AZERTAC