Budget Draft Law Approved, Figures Yet To Be Released
By Yun Samean and James Welsh
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The Council of Ministers approved the 2007 budget draft law at its Friday meeting, but did not release the total amount budgeted or the money allocated to the various ministries and institutions.
Government officials were unable to provide specific details on Sunday.
Council of Ministers issued a statement Friday on the budget called the 2007 Financial Management law, stating that the draft was designed with two strategies in mind: to control revenues, expenditures and debt reduction, and to implement the national development strategy from 2006 to 2010.
"Cambodia hopes to reduce poverty, promote the private sector, agriculture, infrastructure and human resources," the statement said.
"In order to reach this goal, the Council of Ministers believe the government must consider the following: continue micro-economic policies, public finance reforms, promote investment, land reform, banking systems and insurance."
Ministry of Finance Secretary of State Chea Peng Cheang said that he attended the meeting but he could not remember the budget figures.
Hang Chuon Naron, secretary-general of the Ministry of Finance, said that he had been instructed to refer all questions concerning the draft law to the Council of Ministers.
Council of Ministers spokesman Seng Savorn said that he did not know the budget's total figure and that he was unable to explain its itemized sections.
"I am not an expert in mathematics," he said. "I am good at politics."
Minister of Information and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said he could not remember the exact amount budgeted but that there was a 3 per-cent budget increase for the Health and Education ministries and a 1 percent budget cut for the Ministry of Defense.
Cheam Yeap, CPP lawmaker and chairman of the Bank Commission at the National Assembly, said that he did not know the budget's total amount, but that as the budget tends to increase from year to year, he expects that it will be bigger than last year's.
The 2006 budget approved by the National Assembly totaled $926 million, which was 20 percent higher than the 2005 budget of $772 million.
The government is also developing a strategy to reduce the national debt, which will mostly consist of urging countries to reduce or drop the sums Cambodia owes, Cheam Yeap said.
"I have asked those countries to reduce debt or drop the debt because we are a developing country and we are building the country," he said.
SRP lawmaker Son Chhay said he will see the budget draft law today, but that the figures do not reflect reality.
Unchecked overspending by some ministries and the government's failure to implement budget increases for others is far to commonplace, he said.
"The numbers on the paper become meaningless," he added.
Government officials were unable to provide specific details on Sunday.
Council of Ministers issued a statement Friday on the budget called the 2007 Financial Management law, stating that the draft was designed with two strategies in mind: to control revenues, expenditures and debt reduction, and to implement the national development strategy from 2006 to 2010.
"Cambodia hopes to reduce poverty, promote the private sector, agriculture, infrastructure and human resources," the statement said.
"In order to reach this goal, the Council of Ministers believe the government must consider the following: continue micro-economic policies, public finance reforms, promote investment, land reform, banking systems and insurance."
Ministry of Finance Secretary of State Chea Peng Cheang said that he attended the meeting but he could not remember the budget figures.
Hang Chuon Naron, secretary-general of the Ministry of Finance, said that he had been instructed to refer all questions concerning the draft law to the Council of Ministers.
Council of Ministers spokesman Seng Savorn said that he did not know the budget's total figure and that he was unable to explain its itemized sections.
"I am not an expert in mathematics," he said. "I am good at politics."
Minister of Information and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said he could not remember the exact amount budgeted but that there was a 3 per-cent budget increase for the Health and Education ministries and a 1 percent budget cut for the Ministry of Defense.
Cheam Yeap, CPP lawmaker and chairman of the Bank Commission at the National Assembly, said that he did not know the budget's total amount, but that as the budget tends to increase from year to year, he expects that it will be bigger than last year's.
The 2006 budget approved by the National Assembly totaled $926 million, which was 20 percent higher than the 2005 budget of $772 million.
The government is also developing a strategy to reduce the national debt, which will mostly consist of urging countries to reduce or drop the sums Cambodia owes, Cheam Yeap said.
"I have asked those countries to reduce debt or drop the debt because we are a developing country and we are building the country," he said.
SRP lawmaker Son Chhay said he will see the budget draft law today, but that the figures do not reflect reality.
Unchecked overspending by some ministries and the government's failure to implement budget increases for others is far to commonplace, he said.
"The numbers on the paper become meaningless," he added.
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