The Legal Issues and the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committees, at the joint sitting, discussed the initial version of the Draft Law on State Budget 2025 (along with the enclosed material) and the Basic Data and Directions of the Country for 2025-2028, introduced by the First Deputy Finance Minister, Giorgi Kakauridze.

According to him, the real economic growth for 2025 is planned at 5,5% and 5.3% in the average term. Per his information, the nominal GDP is forecasted in the amount of 97,4 bl. GEL and the GDP per capita exceeds 9,600 USD, and deriving from the current growth, GDP will achieve 123,0 bl. GEL in the average term and will exceed 12,000 USD per capita.

Pursuant to the Draft, the tax revenues of the mixed budget are determined in the amount of 14,4 bl. GEL - 25,1% of GDP. Besides, the mixed budget deficit constitutes 2,5% of GDP, and the state debt remains within 36,8% of GDP.

As the reporter noted, the expenditures of the mixed budget in sum constitute 31,2 bl. GEL, which will be consumed on the refund of the state debts. The total index of the state budget 2025 has been increased with 2 281,0 ml GEL compared to the approved plan and constitutes 26 850,5 ml GEL.

According to the reporter, the expenditures of the state budget 2025 are determined by 27 046,5 ml GEL, which exceeds the index of 2024 with 2 016,1 ml GEL. In line with the Draft: the assignments for the Ministry of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Protection are determined by 8 700,0 ml GEL - exceeding the index of 2024 by 870,9 ml GEL; the assignments for the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth constitute 2 885,0 ml GEL - exceeding the preceding index by 377,0 ml GEL; the assignments for the Ministry of Culture and Sports are increased by 43,0 ml GEL and achieve 515,0 ml GEL; the assignments for the Regional Development and Infrastructure Ministry constitute 3 200,0 ml GEL; the funds for the Environmental Protection and Agriculture Ministry are 745,0 ml GEL; the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development will enjoy 1 bl. GEL, which exceeds the preceding index by 199,0 ml GEL.

As Kakauridze stated, 427,0 ml GEL will be allocated for the Ministry of Justice; 1600,0 ml GEL - for the Ministry of Defense; 1350,0 ml GEL for the Interior Ministry; 68,0 ml GEL - the Prosecutor’s Office; 19,0 ml GEL - Special Investigation Service; 174,7 ml GEL in total for the judicial system; 13,7 ml GEL - Legal Aid Service; 10,3 ml GEL will be allocated for the Office of the Public Defender; and 8,5 ml GEL - for the Personal Data Protection Service.

“This is the initial version of the draft budget. For two upcoming months, we intend to specify the resources that we expect for 2025 to, in cooperation with the new Parliament, finalize the draft budget, which shall be endorsed in December”, - he added.