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On May 29, the preliminary debates of the annual report on the implementation of the 2022 state budget of the Republic of Armenia began at the joint sitting of the standing committees of the National Assembly.

The RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the RA NA President Alen Simonyan, the representatives of the legislative and executive powers attended the sitting.

The RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan touched upon the economic, financial and social indicators, presented information on the foreign policy, in particular, the regional situation, the negotiation process.

In 2022, 12.6 % economic growth was recorded in the Republic of Armenia, which is an unprecedentedly high indicator for the last fifteen years. In 2022, the tax revenues of the state budget amounted to one trillion 926 billion AMD, which is 82 billion AMD or 4% more than what was initially planned. In 2022, the revenue part was planned to be 82 billion AMD less: we have made adjustments, and the actual initial plan was exceeded by 82 billion AMD. “I want to underline that the 2022 budget indicators are 339 billion AMD or 21.4% more than in 2021 in terms of tax revenues. Compared to the previous year, we have a significant increase in budget indicators, and compared to 2017, the tax revenues of the 2022 budget are more by 2 billion 20 million AMD or 66.3%, and compared to 2018 by 670 billion AMD or 1 billion 820 million dollars or 53%,” the Prime Minister of the country noted.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, the growth of the budget revenues is conditioned by three main factors: the indicators of economic growth, reduction of the shadow and the implemented reforms. The Prime Minister said that in 2022, 63.5 billion AMD more income tax was collected compared to the previous year, totally 522 billion AMD, and compared to 2018, when the three-level tax rate was in effect, 53% more income tax was collected. “In other words, we lowered taxes, but income tax collections increased by 53%,” Nikol Pashinyan stated. He presented the example of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, reminding that the Government is taking part in the management of the combine from 2021. “In 2021, Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) paid a historically unprecedented high amount of taxes - 145 billion 636 million AMD. To imagine what this indicator is, let me say the following: The taxes paid in 2022 are about 7 billion AMD more than all the taxes paid by the ZCMC in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 combined. This is an evident indicator,” the Prime Minister said and added that the progress is also significant in terms of profit tax and tax revenues and introduced the numerical indicators. According to him, the tax policy towards large taxpayers has changed significantly. In December, an absolute record in the history of Armenia in terms of jobs was registered: 704,000 registered jobs. “I am glad to record that this number is no longer topical, because in March and April 2023, new records were registered: 706.294 and 710.150, respectively,” Nikol Pashinyan mentioned.

Touching upon the regional issues, the Head of the executive body noted that the military-political situation in the region continues to be tense, which is due not only to our complex relations, but also to global processes. “We have adopted a peace agenda and strategy and we do our best to implement that agenda,” he said.

The Prime Minister also presented details of the meeting between the President of Russia, the President of Azerbaijan and him held in Moscow a few days before, the negotiations in Brussels, touched upon the upcoming pentilateral meeting in Chisinau and the possibility of signing a Peace Treaty on June 1. “We haven’t received any comments from Azerbaijan regarding our proposals that were conveyed to them before the meeting in Washington yet. It is already the fourth edition of the Peace Treaty. We have forwarded our fourth edition to the Azerbaijani side: as of now we have not received their comments. At present, there is no agreed draft that could be signed,” Nikol Pashinyan noted.

The Head of the executive body also spoke about the process of bilateral relations with a number of countries, including Turkey, and expressed hope that after the presidential elections held in that country, it will be possible to continue the normalization process of relations. “This is also one of the most important issues on our agenda,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister ended his speech with an optimistic indicator: during the first four months of 2023, 11.926 children were born in Armenia, which is 1401 more than in 2022, 523 more than in 2021, 1469 more than in 2020, 1469 more than in 2020, 1415 more than in 2019 and 1180 more than in 2018. “It is our duty to properly ensure the safety, well-being and happiness of these children in the Republic of Armenia,” the Head of the executive body stated.

The RA Prime Minister presented the results of the implemented policies and the main directions in detail.