DUSHANBE, January 16, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A January 15 government session, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, reviewed last year’s economic results.

Heads of ministries and departments reported on the results of work carried out in 2008.

Speaking at the meeting, Economic Development and Trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda noted that gross domestic product (GDP) rose 7.9 percent in the year to December 31, 2008, reaching 17.609.3  billion somoni.  Inflation for 2008 stood at 11.8 percent, while the country’s external trade turnover last year amounted to $4.4596 billion, which was 113.3 percent of the 2007 level.

President Rahmon noted that a decline in the industrial production volumes evoked serious concern.  He ordered to develop a plan of actions to support real production within the coming 12 days and submit it for consideration to the government.  

In his report, Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov mainly focused on issues related to implementation of financial policy for 2008-2009.  He noted that 96.8 percent of expenditure part of the national budget for 2008 was fulfilled.

The president pointed to the necessity of strictly controlling targeted and effective use of the budgetary funds.

The Customs Service head Gurez Zaripov noted that the customs duty collection target for 2009 had been overfulfilled by 30 percent and additional 365 million somoni had been transferred to the national budget. 

Rahmon ordered to increase this year’s customs duty collection by 100 million somoni.  

Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) Sharif Rahimzoda noted that microlending rose 57 percent in the year to December 31 2008 and 166,000 people receive small loans, which is 9,000 people more than in 2007.  

Energy and Industries Minister Sherali Gul, Barqi Tojik head Sharifkhon Samiyev, and Tojikgaz (state natural-gas distributor) Fathiddin Muhsiddinov as well as heads of a number of large industrial enterprises reported on the results of work of energy and industrial sectors in 2008.