President Emomali Rahmon presided over a government meeting on July 29, to review Tajikistan's economic performance over the past six months and outline tasks for the second half of the year. The meeting emphasized the country's economic achievements and set directives for continued growth and development, ASIA-Plus informed.
President Rahmon highlighted the government's constructive and consistent efforts that maintained a positive trend in the national economy. The data for January to June 2024 showed notable progress, with the economy growing at a rate of 8.2% and the GDP reaching 61.7 bn somonis ($5.9bn). Industrial production increased by 11.5%, agricultural output rose by 9.6%, and fixed capital investment grew by 15.7%. Trade turnover expanded by 11.9%, paid services increased by 16.6%, cargo transportation rose by 13.8%, and passenger transportation by 9%. Foreign trade turnover surged by 29.3%. The inflation rate during this period was contained at 1.9%.
The national budget income plan for the first half of 2024 was fulfilled at 107.9%, with the budget receiving 21.2 billion somonis ($2bn), 1.5 bn somonis ($141mn) more than initially planned.
President Rahmon issued directives to government bodies, emphasizing the need to overcome existing challenges through effective implementation of adopted strategies and programs. Key goals include maintaining an economic growth rate of at least 8%, enhancing the efficiency of national economy sectors, and prioritizing the prevention of potential risks to the economy. The president also stressed the importance of promoting a "green economy," digitalizing public service delivery processes, and expanding cashless payments by the end of the year.
The president instructed relevant ministries and departments to strictly implement cashless payments for public services, particularly in healthcare, education, housing, communal services, environmental protection, civil registration departments, and state notary offices of cities and districts. He also emphasized the need for ministries, local authorities, and state-run enterprises to take adequate measures to ensure the implementation of the revenue part of the national budget in 2024. Measures to attract new sources of income to the national budget, reduce tax arrears, and prevent the emergence of new arrears were also highlighted.
The president emphasized the necessity of timely fulfilling the government's social obligations, including the full payment of wages to social workers, pensions, compensations, and benefits, improving healthcare, and ensuring a plan for financing socio-economic spheres. The State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management, along with project implementation units, were instructed to ensure the timely implementation of state investment projects and to eliminate existing shortcomings.
The president also stressed the importance of attracting more direct foreign investment into the country's economy. Specific measures were to be taken to ensure the timely and high-quality implementation of projects to reduce electricity losses in cities and districts. This includes ensuring the implementation of a billing system, full accounting of energy consumers, and timely collection of funds from the population, organizations, and enterprises.
During the meeting, bills offering amendments to the country’s Civil Code and the law on state social insurance were discussed and sent for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament). The meeting participants also discussed the Plan of Actions for the Financial Protection Strategy against Natural Disasters in Tajikistan for the period until 2037 and issues related to establishing the Limited Liability Company (LLC) “Technological Park of Software Products and Information Technologies in Dushanbe,” making appropriate decisions.
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