Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 April / Trend / The consolidated budget of Azerbaijan amounted to $12bln in 2008, which is 10 times more than in 2003, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on 14 April at the Cabinet's meeting dedicated to the first quarter 2008 results of the socio-economic development
"Given the increasing economic opportunities, we should more rapidly solve the issues which concern the people," he stated.
According to the President, for solving the issues the Government recently was charged with making supplements to the budget. "The outline draft changes have already been developed and discussed, and these will be submitted to the Parliament for further consideration. We want the supplements, additional funds to be spent for fulfilment of the main tasks Azerbaijan is currently facing," President Aliyev said.
Aliyev said that it is planned to again increase the minimal wages and minimal pension in Azerbaijan this year. On 1 January, the minimal wages and minimal pension were increased from AZN 50 to AZN 60.
"The social protection of people working in organizations, supported by the public budget, should be far increased. There are concrete suggestions and programs in this connection. And the main thing is that our material opportunities can afford that," President said.
"The targeted social aid is being successfully implemented. The program covers some 400,000 people. That is relatively a new direction for Azerbaijan. The key priority for the State is improving the level of living among the people," President Aliyev stated.