The Parliament of Moldova adopted in the first reading the draft Law on the state budget for 2023 with a deficit of 18 billion 327.3 million lei.
In particular, it is expected that next year the revenue part of the state budget will amount to 64 billion 868 million 382.2 thousand lei (+5.5 billion lei, or an increase of 9.3%, compared with the revised figures for 2022), expenditure part - 83 billion 195 million 682.2 thousand lei (+9.3 billion lei, or an increase of 12.5%), and the deficit - 18 billion 327.3 million lei (+3.7 billion lei, or an increase of 25.6%). As Minister of Finance Dumitru Budianschi noted, the budget for 2023 was drawn up taking into account the numerous crises that our country is experiencing. The main economic law for the next year is based on new forecasts of macroeconomic indicators agreed with IMF experts, according to which in 2023 GDP growth is expected by 2% - up to 308.8 billion lei, average annual inflation - 15.7%, export growth - by 1.4%, imports - by 3.2%, an increase in the average salary - by 13.8% - up to 11,700 lei. The Minister of Finance emphasized that the draft law on the state budget for 2023 was developed by the government in the unprecedented conditions of the energy and economic crisis, the refugee crisis, as well as in the context of inflationary processes with a pronounced impact on the budget. These circumstances led to a focus not only on short-term measures to improve the economy, but also on long-term reforms that would generate resources for sustainable growth. The head of the Ministry of Finance specified that in 2023 the state budget deficit of more than 18.3 billion lei is planned to be covered mainly through external loans, which are planned to be received on concession terms, at a low interest rate. In the structure of state budget revenues for 2023, the largest share will traditionally fall on taxes and duties - over 56.9 billion lei, or 87.8% (+4.97 billion lei, or + 9.6%). At the same time, it is planned to receive more than 34.1 billion lei from VAT (+4.48 billion lei, or + 15.1%). In the form of grants, the 2023 budget is expected to receive 5 billion 505.3 million lei, which is 19.4% (894.1 million lei) more than the adjusted indicator for 2022 and will amount to 8.5% of the total the amount of income in 2023. Herewith, it is planned to receive grants to support the budget in the amount of 4 billion 322.4 million lei (the equivalent of 186 million euros and $17 million). In addition, in 2023, Moldova plans to receive grants to finance projects from external sources in the amount of 1 billion 182.9 million lei (the equivalent of $59.1 million). Moldova also plans to receive external loans in 2023 to support the budget and implement projects financed from external sources, totaling 18 billion 651.5 million lei (the equivalent of $932.1 million). Meanwhile, it is planned to receive external loans for budget support for 12 billion 548 million lei (equivalent to $627.1 million), and for the implementation of projects financed from external sources - for 6 billion 103.5 million lei (equivalent to $305 million). VAT will be the most important source of revenues, accounting for more than half of their total. The largest part of the spending will go to social spending, raising wages and pensions, paying compensation to reduce energy vulnerability, and introducing other important programs. It was agreed that the Road Fund will amount to 1 billion 485 million 348.4 thousand lei, the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund - 5 billion lei, the National Fund for Regional and Local Development - 600 million lei, the National Fund for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas - 1.5 billion lei, the Viticulture and Wine Fund - 40.69 million lei, the National Environmental Fund - 175 million lei, the Fund for the Voluntary Association of Settlements - 250 million lei, the Population Support Fund - 220.19 million lei. 49.98 million lei are provided for the financing of political parties; for financing capital investments by budgetary bodies - 2 billion 426 million 686.6 thousand lei; for the repair/construction of sanitary blocks in primary, secondary and higher educational institutions - 25 million lei; 66 million 547.5 thousand lei for the payment of fees in international organizations in which Moldova is a member, and 15 million lei for the country's reintegration activities. The government's term funds will amount to 1.1 billion lei, while the government's reserve fund will amount to 500 million lei, and the Intervention Fund - 600 million lei. To support the program of grants for youth initiatives at the local level, there are provided 1.5 million lei, for the Diaspora Acasă Reușește DAR 1+3 program - 10 million lei; to subsidize jobs - 15 million lei; for the implementation of the state program "First Home" - 170 million lei. The main policy measures envisaged in the draft state budget for 2023 are: providing compensation to pay energy bills; granting a monthly allowance to state employees in the amount of 1,300 lei; providing compensation payments to people whose monthly salary will be less than 4,000 lei; implementation of the First Home (Prima Casa) program; START for Youth and PARE 1+1 programs; ensuring an increase in financial norms for the nutrition of children and students in educational institutions; increase in scholarships for schoolchildren, students and athletes; support for the activities of theaters, circus and concert organizations, etc. Of the total state budget expenditures for 2023, about 51.1% are transfers to other budgets: the state social insurance budget; Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, local public authorities, which is 42 billion lei. In 2023, 154 projects financed from external sources will be implemented, their costs are estimated at 4.5 billion lei. // 12.12.2021 — InfoMarket // 12.12.2021 — InfoMarket
