Revenues to 2008 National Public Budget estimated at 23.3 billion lei

Revenues to the National Public Budget for 2008 are estimated to add up to about 23.3 billion lei, by 1.6 billion lei (or 7.7%) more than the amount forecast for 2007. Expenditures will reach an estimated 23.5 billion lei, by 3.9 billion lei (20.7%) more than expenditures approved for 2007. These estimations were presented by Finance Minister Mihai Pop at a Government meeting convened to discuss the 2008 Budget Law Draft. The draft laws for the state budget, for social state insurances and for the mandatory health insurances have already been presented to the Government for consideration. According to the minister, the next year will record an increase of 258 million lei in the volume of transfers to the mandatory health insurances funds, in the fund for professional schools scholarships –16.2 million lei, in implementing projects in areas of science and innovation – by 115.6 million lei. In addition, the amount of allocations will be increased for the summer vacations of children, for connecting certain categories of rural population to gas pipes, for reimbursing preferential credits for certain groups, for improving the alimentation norms in schools and other similar activities. For capital investments in constructions, the state budget will earmark for 2008 a total of 1.14 billion lei, by 51.5% more than it was approved for the year 2007. During the year 2008, the budget plans to reimburse external debts amounting to 660.5 million lei. To compensate internal debts, the state budget reserved 574 million lei. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) predicted for 2008 constitutes 56.8 billion lei, by 7% more than the predictions for this year. The average annual rate of inflation is forecast to reach 9.3%, while the exchange rate of the national currency – 12.2 lei per 1 USD. Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev requested an additional examination of the list of capital investments, including the possibility of doubling the investments for road construction up to 2 billion lei. The Premier also mentioned the evaluation of possibilities for supporting additionally the special youth, encouraging construction of houses through mortgage methods, increasing the indemnities at child deliveries, encouraging the process of connecting to gas pipes, equipping medical institutions with proper instruments and other similar activities.