Armenian finance minister: 1.5% real GDP decline likely in 2009
YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. Armenian Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan
thinks 1.5% real GDP decline is likely in 2009.
Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, he pointed out forecasts of the
World Bank, the IMF and Armenian experts saying they are close to each
other.
In particular, IMF predicts 1 to 1.5% GDP decline. There are also
close-to-zero forecasts.
Davtyan said that the ministry keeps watch at developments and conducts
a detailed monitoring in online regime ` receives daily information
about tax collection.
According to the ministry’s figures, GDP reduced about 1% in January
2009, compared with the same month of the previous year. February’s
figures will be available by March 20.
`My personal opinion is that the IMF forecast- 1.5% GDP decline – is
closer to the reality’, he said. Armenia recorded 0.7% decline in
January 2009, compared with January 2008.
This decline amounted to AMD 1320 billion (in market prices). GDP
index-deflator was recorded at 99.7% in January 2009, compared with the
same month a year earlier.
In the 2009 state budget, 9.2% GDP growth and 4% (±1.5%) inflation are
planned. M.V.-0—