Cabinet approves 2026 budget

The Cabinet approved the 2026 state budget bill on Thursday. The bill will be debated in parliament. 

Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan said the budget aligns with the government program’s priorities and includes important social, educational, healthcare, economic and infrastructure initiatives.

Expenditures are projected at 3 trillion 628 billion drams while revenues are expected to reach 3 trillion 91 billion drams. The economic growth forecast is 5.4%. The deficit will amount to 4.5% of GDP, compared to 5.5% this year.

Hovhannisyan pointed out a number of key targets for 2026: the launch of the universal healthcare insurance system, the development of Academic City, with 4,9 billion drams envisaged for construction and international consulting services, raise in salaries, reconstruction and re-equipment of kindergartens and schools, 66,2 billion drams worth of repair and maintenance works pertaining to road infrastructure, construction of water dams to increase water reserves and flow management.

The minister said the objectives are aimed at social improvement, economic growth and infrastructure development.