Media Review - October 24, 2019

A look at the 2020 state budget, the proposal to exempt meat from VAT, and the high cost of fruit on the market are the topics of today's media.

The newspaper Azerbaijan writes about the state budget bill for 2020, according to which budget revenues will amount to 24 billion 134 million 500 thousand manat, and expenses will be 26 billion 913 million 700 thousand manat.

Compared to 2019, revenues will grow by 4.2%, and expenses - by 6.8%.

39 regions of the country do without subsidies and are self-financing.

In 2020, real economic growth in GDP will be at 3%, and non-oil GDP growth will be at 3.8%. Monthly average wage growth is expected at 15.5%.

The website Yeni Sabah.az discusses with the expert Natig Jafarli the issue of exemption of meat from VAT. According to the amendments to the Tax Code submitted to the Milli Majlis, from January 1, 2020, the sale of animal meat is exempted from VAT for a period of 4 years, which also applies to chicken.

The discussion of this issue in the Milli Majlis is expected on November 12, 13 and 14. The expert noted that this will lead to a decrease in the cost of meat by at least one and a half manat.

The website Oxu.az discusses with the expert Nijat Nasirli the high cost of fruits and, in particular, citrus fruits. The season of these fruits has just begun and each of them has its own ripening time.

By New Year, citrus fruits will come from Iran, Georgia and Turkey, and cannot continue to cost 4 manat per 1 kg.

Feijoa costs from 80 gapik to 1.2 manat.

As for pomegranates, in comparison with last year, the price of this fruit is acceptable. -0-