President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held the session of the Cabinet of Ministers where the draft of the State budget of Turkmenistan for the next year was reviewed. First, the Head of the State gave floor to Minister of Finances G. Muradov invited to the session, who reported on the activity of the department under his supervision and development of the draft of the State budget for 2018. It was informed that this document was made taking into account recommendations and requests of the President of Turkmenistan as well as other priority directions of economic strategy. The elaboration of the main financial plan was carried out based on preliminary calculations of the ministries, departments and governing administrations. Having listened to the report, Turkmen leader highlighted that just as previously, special place would be allocated to social sphere in the State budget for the next year. Great attention is to be paid to increase of credit volumes used for the growth of national economy. In this regard, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that it is necessary to oversee the measures for stimulation, arrangement and development of small productions. It is also necessary to increase the credit volumes allocated for the population, improve the quality of banking services, the Head of the State continued. Having pointed on the necessity of promotion of banking deposits and guarantee of their security, the President of the country highlighted that the economy of Turkmenistan should rest on market relations. The Government would continue supporting the entrepreneurship, small and medium business, the Head of the State said, having addressed number of specific assignments to the minister of finances. After, the floor was given to Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers S. Toyliyev wh reported on the situation in the areas under his responsibility and on the finances planned for their development under the State budget of Turkmenistan for 2018. It is stipulated to increase the expenditures of the State budget in such priority spheres as education, health care and sports. Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted again that social aspect remains the most important component of the State budget for the next year as before. In this relation, having stopped at the development of domestic health care system, the Head of the State made special mention of the necessity of taking steadfast measures for efficient introduction of self-financing to this sphere, study of advanced world practices in medical sphere and its practical implementation. It is necessary to hold under control and decide all timely all the issues related to further improvement of education, science, health care and sports spheres, for which development the Government allocates considerable amounts annually, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted, having addresses number of specific instructions to the Vice Premier. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Minister O. Gurbannazarov reported on the situation in the spheres under his supervision as well as on the results of elaboration of the State budget for 2018. This document was made taking into account the utmost objectives defined by economic strategy of the Head of the State, National Programme of Social and Economic Developemnt of Turkmenistan for 2011 – 2030 as well as by other national, state, regional and branch programmes. Together with the main financial plan, the preliminary projects of the main directions of social and economic development of the country and Investment programme for the next year have been developed. The Vice Premier gave detailed report about planned financial volumes that are to be used for the development of different spheres of national economy. Addressing the Vice Premier, the President of Turkmenistan pointed at the necessity of regular monitoring of the development of all branches as well as implementation of practical measures for further improvement of the activity of the structures under his supervision. Increase of production of import substitutive goods and volumes of export of domestic commodities, the Head of the State continued. Improvement of the level of accessibility to financial services for the population and small and medium business parties are among the key directions, Turkmen Leader noted, having requested the Vice Premier to control timely salaries, pensions, state allowances and student scholarships settlements as fulfilment of the plan for tax income to the State budget. In his turn, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers M. Babayev reported on the situation in structural divisions of oil and gas sector and the results of analytical work for development of the draft of the State Budget for the next year. Having listened to the report, the President of Turkmenistan focused the attention on the utmost objectives of fuel and energy complex of the country at modern stage, where important role is given to increase the production spectrum of petro- and gas chemical production and its export to the world markets. In this regard, the Head of the State addressed the Vice Premier with number of specific directions for further implementation of the Programme of the Development of Oil and Gas Industry of Turkmenistan until 2030, having requested to activate the work in modernization and diversification of the branch, wide implementation of advanced technology and scientific developments. Next, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers M. Aydogdiyev made report on the project of the State budget for 2018 as well as on the work carried out in industrial sector of national economy. Formation of the competitive economy of Turkmenistan is a strategic direction of sustainable development of the country and bringing it to high standards of prosperity that match developed states of the world, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted. Special role is given to processing branches of industrial complex that received an opportunity to enter the world markets owing to quality modernization and diversification, investment in establishment of innovative productions based on natural resources. Stressing the attention at the importance of attraction of external investments in this sphere in the form of the most advanced equipment and technologies, the head of the State pointed at the necessity of rapid implementation of national industrial projects that have strategic importance for the economy of the country both in import substitutive directions and export orientation as well. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B. Annameredov reported on the work performed in transport and communication sphere including under preparation of the draft of the State budget for 2018. Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted that transport sector make considerable input to the GDP as well as incomes to the state and local budgets. The construction of automobile roads, interchanges and bridges is carried out rapidly in the country. The Head of the State emphasized that our common target is to combine objective economic interests and realities of international partnership. Having noted that efficient use of environmentally safe modern technologies is a time demand, the President pointed at the necessity of the electrification of the railroads. Having stressed the attention at the implementation of large-scale social and economic programmes, the President of Turkmenistan requested the Vice Premier to make strict control of the work of all structures under his supervision, for integrated development of which the Government makes all the conditions. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers D. Amangeldiyev reported on the activity of the establishments of construction, energy and municipal service sectors. The information on the development of the State budget of related ministries and departments for 2018 was also given. The President noted that utmost attention is paid to the development of these sectors of the economy at modern stage. It is planned to expand the scale of construction in the capital and the regions in near future, the Head of the State continued, having highlighted that huge capital investments are sent for support of domestic enterprises involved in construction sphere. It is necessary to attract local companies, which gained big experience, to realization of the projects in this sphere, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said. Having requested to increase the production of construction materials from local resources, the Head of Turkmenistan addressed the Vice Premier with relative instructions. After, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers E. Orazgeldiyev reported on planned indices of the State budget for 2018 for the enterprises and organizations of agricultural complex. It was mentioned that the investments allocated for agricultural complex are planned to send mainly to construction of different production facilities including those that are stipulated by the State Programme of the development of water resources of the country as well as for improvement of soil conditions of the fields, etc. Summing up the report, the Head of Turkmenistan highlighted that taking of integrated measures aimed at further improvement of profitability and technical rearmament of the branch, modernization of its industrial infrastructure, increase of production volumes of high quality agricultural production is necessary condition of formation of competitive agrarian industry. In this relation, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted the importance of works for wide implementation of advanced technologies and scientific achievements, improvement of land fertility, rational use of water resources. Generally, all of these is to support the realizations of huge potential of domestic agricultural complex and solution of the tasks in import substitution sphere. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers A. Garajayev reported on the work for provision of efficient disbursement of finances allocated in the draft of the State budget for 2018 for the development of cultural sphere. It is planned to send considerable investments for this purpose in the main financial document of the country for the next year. Having listened to the report and highlighted that the State provides large investments for the development of cultural sphere and mass media, the President of the country pointed the necessity to increase the control for their use and expenditures, having given the Vice Premier with specific assignments on this account. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister R. Meredov made report on the activity of the ministry under realization of the Concept of Foreign Policy Course of the Country for 2017 – 2023 as well as on the draft of the State budget for 2018. Having highlighted invariable adherence of Turkmenistan to the policy of positive neutrality, peace-loving and open door, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov pointed the necessity of efficient involvement of all existing capabilities for further development of fruitful relations on bilateral interstate level and under competent international organizations and structures. Continuing the subject, the President noted the presence of promising perspectives and considerable potential for consolidation of beneficial trade and economic relations with foreign partners, which optimum realization meet the targets of common wellbeing. Speaking of this, the Head of the State requested the Prime Minister to pay permanent attention to this matter. Chairperson of the Mejlis A. Nurberdiyeva informed on the work for development of the Draft State budget for 2018 carried out by the deputies of national parliament together with relative ministries, departments and administrations. According to the assignment of the Head of Turkmenistan, the state programmes of the development of the country, economic and financial indices in all branches of national economy were taking into consideration during elaboration of the main financial document. In accordance with the main strategic targets of social and economic development of Turkmenistan in 2018, the project stipulates the increase of efficiency of the productions, wide implementation of advanced technologies, stimulation of competiveness, further retention of economic growth rates, steadfast provision of activation of the investments, creation of new occupancies, consolidation of social protection of the citizens as well as improvement of social and living conditions of the population. Implementation of local budgets taking into account the development of the regions has been analysed. During the development of the State budget of Turkmenistan for 2018, special attention was attached to the analysis of financial and economic indices of organizations and enterprises in 2016 as well as analysis of expected outcomes of 2017 has been carried out. Having noted the importance of comprehensive and well-thought elaboration of the State budget for 2018, the Head of the State highlighted that this main financial document is to be aimed at successful disbursement of the investments made to the development of national economy, implementation of the reforms in social and other spheres, further improvement of life level of the population.