The Sports, the Culture, and the Health Care and Social Issues Committees, at the joint sitting, deliberated on the Draft Law on State Budget 2025, introduced by the First Deputy Finance Minister, Giorgi Kakauridze.

According to the reporter, based on the analysis of the past nine months, both the real economic growth forecast and other macroeconomic parameters have been revised. In addition, both the revenue and expenditure parts of the budget were reviewed, where the need to allocate additional resources for several programs was identified.

According to him, the macroeconomic parameter forecasts have been updated, under which the real GDP growth forecast has been set at 7.2%, instead of the previously projected 6%. Under the updated parameters, the mixed budget revenue plan increases by 222.6 million GEL and is set at 32,133.5 million GEL.

As for the state budget revenues, the total revenues of the 2025 state budget increase by 22.7 million GEL, reaching 27,583.5 million GEL.

According to the reporter, total state budget appropriations will amount to 27,952.9 million GEL, which is 11.2 million GEL higher compared to the approved plan.

He provided information regarding the changes to budget appropriations. Specifically, the appropriations of the IDPs, Labor, Health, and Social Protection Ministry will increase by 133 million GEL, amounting to 8,953.0 million GEL.

The allocations for the Environmental Protection and Agriculture Ministry will increase by 248.3 million GEL, reaching 1,056.4 million GEL.

As a result of the amendments, the Defense Ministry will receive an additional 110 million GEL, and the State Security Service will receive an additional 45.5 million GEL.

An increase in budgetary financing is also envisaged for the Ministry of Sports, whose budget will grow by 32 million GEL and will amount to 330.4 million GEL.

Giorgi Kakauridze also discussed the programs and projects to be financed with the increased budgetary funds and provided detailed explanations regarding the areas to which these resources will be directed.

According to him, due to the reallocation of certain competencies among ministries and the savings generated from the implementation of several projects, financing for the Regional Development and Infrastructure Ministry, as well as the Education, Science, and Youth Ministry, will be reduced. Budgetary funding will also be reduced for the Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry, the Justice Ministry, and the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Taking into account the savings accumulated during the year, the funding of the Parliament will decrease by 20 million GEL and the Central Election Commission by 9 million GEL.

The committee positively assessed the draft.