Djibouti(Mogadishu24)-The second session of the Djibouti Parliamentary Assembly in 2023 opened on Sunday, with a focus on the government’s budget and amendments to the laws.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister, Abdoulkadir Kamil Mohamed, and members of his cabinet.

The Prime Minister, Abdoulkadir Kamil Mohamed, presented the government’s annual budget, which amounts to 144 million Djibouti Francs ($805,264.19).

He stated that this budget prioritizes the development of various sectors, including transportation, healthcare, renewable energy, construction, communication, and modern technology.

“I present to the Parliament the 2024 government budget, which is an essential pillar for the government’s operations and progress. This budget contains our financial plans as a government for the 2024 fiscal year. It contains our areas of priorities such as health, energy, transportation, infrastructure, and other sectors,” said Prime Minister Abdoulkadir Kamil Mohamed.

The Prime Minister highlighted the global impact of natural disasters and challenges such as climate change and diseases like COVID-19, which led to a decline in the global economy. Djibouti faced a 3.5% decline in its GDP but achieved a slight increase this year.

He further noted that the budget aimed to address challenges like climate change, environmental degradation, diseases, and security, which can lead to humanitarian crises.

The prime minister revealed the government’s plan to reduce taxes on essential commodities, especially food items, to reduce the high cost of living.

He pointed out that the government of Djibouti has started negotiations with international financial institutions for potential debt reduction or forgiveness.

Prime Minister Abdoulkadir Kamil Mohamed reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing affordable housing to low-income families in Djibouti and outlined plans to construct 20,000 houses in the capital.

The Speaker of the Djibouti Parliament, Dileyta Mohamed Dileyta, called upon members of Parliament to analyze and discuss the country’s budget to meet the needs of the people.