Russian news agency Interfax
December 7

zbekistan's parliament on Thursday [7 December] passed a state budget plan for 2002 that targets a deficit of 1.5 per cent of GDP.

The budget projects revenues of 1,776bn soms and spending of 1,872bn soms, or respectively 28.6 per cent and 30.1 per cent of GDP, compared to 30.1 per cent and 31.6 per cent of GDP this year.

GDP is forecast to grow 5.1 per cent next year to 6,210bn soms. Industrial production, agricultural output and capital-investment growth are targeted at respectively 7.2 per cent, 5.6 per cent and 4.8 per cent.

The government aims to keep inflation under 14 per cent for the year.

The budget deficit is to be financed with Central Bank credits amounting to 0.5 per cent of GDP, short-term government bonds amounting to 0.5 per cent of GDP and other non-inflationary sources, including privatization revenue targeted at 0.2 per cent of GDP.

The official exchange rate for 7 December is 683.41 soms to the dollar.

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