At the beginning of the cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister of Georgia Vladimer Gurgenidze emphasized that the draft project of the 2008 budget is of paramount importance among all other issues mentioned in the agenda of the day. He said that the said project was drafted through a long-term analytical work and is envisaging all the new social programs which have been announced by our team during the last few weeks. "We are not just yielding random promises, but we are a consolidated political team with its leader at the head and the said promises are at the core of our new social policy; they comprise all those programs, which are targeting at enhancing Georgia's progress, combating poverty, settling the problem of unemployment, increase of export as well as economic development etc. Despite the fact that the new social program has completely been reflected in this project, despite the delay that we have had in attracting the investment funds, Georgia's government has anyway managed (even if symbolically) to plan the surplus state budget of 2008, in observance of all international standards except for the humanitarian standards established by the IMF (International Monetary Fund).
I would like to reiterate that the said surplus is only symbolic, amounting to only 275 000 GEL, but I think that such a phenomenon is unique for Georgia and therefore, commands congratulations on my behalf", - the prime minister asserted.
Organizational Department of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia