Photo from UNIAN
The document is based on a macroeconomic forecast with the real GDP growth by 3% amid inflation of 7.4%.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has passed in the first reading the bill related to the draft national budget of Ukraine for 2019.
The relevant document (Resolution No. 9000-P) was backed by 240 MPs with the required minimum of 226 votes, an UNIAN correspondent reported on October 18.
Read alsoDraft budget for 2019 provides for increase in pension payments – PM Groysman
Presenting the bill, Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budgetary Issues Serhiy Melnyk said the committee had processed 2,071 proposals to the draft law. It recommends to consider 921 proposals in full or in part and reject 1,249 motions.
In turn, Acting Finance Minister of Ukraine Oksana Markarova called on lawmakers to support the bill in the first reading, expressing expectations that after its finalization the document will be passed as a whole before December.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman noted the budget was balanced and based on the country's real capabilities, and now the government needs to work on the development of the country's economy. "We are ready to move on and we need your support," he said, urging MPs to accept the bill as a basis.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's parliament on September 21 accepted the government-prepared 2019 budget for consideration. It is based on a macroeconomic forecast with the real GDP growth by 3% amid inflation of 7.4% and provides revenue at UAH 1.008 trillion (about $36 billion) and expenditures at UAH 1.094 trillion ($39 billion). The budget deficit is set at UAH 89.989 billion ($3.2 billion), or 2.3% of GDP, the national debt is capped at UAH 2.449 trillion ($87.7 billion).
The national budget of Ukraine for 2018 sets a goal of UAH 917.9 billion ($32.9 billion) in revenue and UAH 991.7 billion ($35.5 billion) in expenditures. The budget deficit is capped at UAH 80.6 billion ($2.9 billion), or 2.4% of GDP.