PM says “balanced” 2024 budget with “interesting” programmes will affect “largest part” of population

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the fiscally “balanced” state budget for 2024 involved “quite interesting” programmes and would affect the “largest part of our population” next year. 

The Government Administration said Garibashvili presented the final version of the budget at today’s Government meeting. 

The PM introduced changes in the final version from its second revision, saying the spending would increase by ₾165 million ($60.89mln) and reach ₾25 billion ($9.23bln), of which the largest part - ₾130 million ($48mln) - would be spent on projects planned for regions. 

Garibashvili added the regional fund would have ₾580 million ($214mln) in its budget, making municipalities able to finance “important projects” next year.

[W]e have allocated ₾15 million ($5.54mln) for the compensation of the families in [western] Guria [region] whose houses were damaged during the [adverse weather in September]”, he noted.

We will transfer [the money] to these people this year, houses and flats will be purchased, [and] not a single family will be left without help. Additionally, we will allocate another ₾15 million in 2024”, the PM said.

Garibashvili said the budget would stand at ₾28.760 billion ($10.61bln), contrasting the figure to ₾9 billion ($3.32bln) in 2012 and noting both the budget and the overall economy had tripled since then.

The final version of the 2024 budget will be next sent to the Parliament.