The Georgian parliament will have approved the 2018 state budget by the end of today. Mamuka Bakhtadze, Finance Minister is introducing parameters of draft-project for the main financial document of the country to lawmakers.

The draft-project is corrected reflecting structural changes in the government. However, the amount that the state managed to save by reduction of number of ministries from 18 to 14 is not yet determined.

The total amount of 2018 state budget is 12, 446, 000 GEL and this exceeds the amount of state budget for 2017 by one billion.

According to Bakhtadze, the 2018 state budget is adjusted to the government’s 4-point plan. The main priorities go to healthcare, infrastructure and education.

A total of 1, 815, 000 GEL will be allocated to Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure in 2018. The 72% of money to be allocated to Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure will be used on arrangement of road infrastructure both in cities and regions.

Bakhtadze also said he believes that taxation pressure should be minimal on education sector. Finance Minister said that the status of 4500 teachers would be upgraded in 2018 within the framework of state budget project.

The parliamentary opposition criticizes the draft-project and does not plan to support it. Some experts also believe that priorities are not correctly defined.