EXPERT: ARMENIA’S 2010 STATE BUDGET FEASIBLE

/ARKA/
September 30, 2009
YEREVAN

Gagik Minasyan, chairman of Armenian National Assembly’s finance,
credit and budget standing committee, thinks Armenia’s 2010 state
budget is feasible.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the lawmaker said that
the 2010 state budget would be based on reasonable outlooks.

Armenian cabinet ministers approved the 2010 state budget on Monday.

The state budget revenue will amount to AMD 676.6 billion, expenditure
AMD 859.6 billion and deficit AMD 183 billion.

Minasyan said that the budget will be sent to the National Assembly
by October 2, and before that the government can alter it.

The lawmaker finds the indicators planned in the budget well justified.

He agrees that economic decline will slow down soon and the national
economy will start recovering.

Minasyan thinks the 2009 economic decline will be recorded at 15%,
and in 2010 the country will enjoy economic growth.

According to statistical reports, Armenia’s GDP shrank 18.4% in
Jan-Aug 2009 to AMD 1761.9 billion ($4987.1 million).

The government plans 1.2 to 1.3% economic growth in the 2010 state
budget.

"Economic situation in Armenia will be more favorable in 2010 than
in 2009", Minasyan said. (1 = AMD 385.35).