Azerbaijan, Baku, July 12 /Trend A.Akhundov/
Azerbaijani state budget revenues amounted to 8.134 billion manat in the first half of 2012, or 106.2 per cent of the forecast which is 45 per cent higher compared to the same period last year, Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov said during a speech at a Cabinet meeting chaired by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and dedicated to the socio-economic development in the first half of 2012 and the upcoming challenges.
Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan, which exceeded forecasts for contributions to the state budget by 16 per cent, provided the proceeds from the collection of taxes at a level of 2.968 billion manat, which is 405 million manat, or 15.8 per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
Some 55 per cent or 1.633 billion manat accounted for the non-oil sector which is by 222 million manat, or 15.8 per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
The State Customs Committee, exceeded forecasts for contributions to the state budget by 0.4 per cent and provided the transfer of 557 million manat, which is 2.7 per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
Transfers of the State Oil Fund to the budget amounted to 4.592 billion manat. Other income supplemented the budget by 17 million manat.
Budget expenditures for January-June of this year totalled 7.11 billion manat, the performance of the forecast was at 91.4 per cent. Budgetary expenditures are 2.227 billion manat, or 45.6 per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
Investment expenditures of the state budget increased by 1.9 times in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year. Costs of economic activity were by 42.8 per cent, social protection and social security - 42.1 per cent, defence - 41.6 per cent, culture, art, information, and physical education - 36.9 per cent, the judiciary, police and prosecutors - 28 per cent, transport and communications - 19.4 per cent, health care - 16.2 per cent, agriculture, forestry farming, fishing, hunting and environmental protection - 6.3 per cent.
During the reporting period, the socio-directed expenditures amounted to 2.3 billion manat, or 32.3 per cent of funds received by the state budget which is by 370 million manat, or 19.2 per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
Some 514 million manat was directed to construction and reconstruction of science, education, health, sports facilities and other socio-cultural and domestic purposes in the first half of the year.
Some 1.476 billion manat were directed to the construction and reconstruction of infrastructure for water and gas, transport, irrigation, municipal infrastructure, of which 405 million manat were allocated to the construction and reconstruction of road and transport infrastructure, 118 million manat - to the performance of the state program on development of the Baku subway, 150 million manat - to the measures under the state program on socio-economic development of regions in 2009-2013, 154 million manat - to rehabilitation and reconstruction of water supply and sanitation, 156 million manat - improvement of water supply and reclaimed land.
Some 348 million manat through loans raised by the Government of Azerbaijan abroad in addition to the investment costs allocated from the state budget, were used for the construction and reconstruction of roads, water and land reclamation, agricultural, social and other infrastructure.
The Minister also informed about the beginning of the process of drafting the state and consolidated budgets of Azerbaijan in 2013 and the next three years.
Official exchange rate on July 12 is 0.7855 AZN/USD