The Ministry of Finance today announced the State of Kuwait’s budget for the coming fiscal year, which starts April 1, 2020 and ends on March 31, 2021. The State’s budget forecasts 14.8 billion in revenue (-6.5 percent change), 22.5 billion in expenditure (0 percent change), and a deficit of KD 9.2 billion (+11.2 percent change) after accounting for the transfer of 10 percent of all revenue to the State’s Future Generations Fund (FGF) as mandated by law.

By law, the State must transfer 10 percent of total annual revenue to FGF (commonly known as Kuwait’s Sovereign Wealth Fund) that is managed by the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA). The Kuwait Minister of Finance HE Mariam A. Al-Aqeel said, “Today we submitted the State’s 2020/2021 budget proposal to Parliament with a zero percent increase in expenditure, while maintaining a healthy Capex of 16 percent to sustain economic growth and execute infrastructure projects that are part of the Kuwait National Development Plan: Vision 2035”.

“The budget we submitted for next year caps expenditure at KD 22.5 billion, which is 19 percent less than the initial budget proposals, and inline with the current fiscal year’s budget. We believe that fiscal reform starts with curbing spending while maintaining healthy capex levels.” “This is a reform budget and an infrastructure budget at the same time. Budget 2020/2021 is good for the economy with over KD 3.5 billion allocated for Capex for the coming year.”

“Financially and socially, Kuwait is in a unique position that enables the introduction of fiscal reform in a controlled and responsible manner, within a legislative and public environment that encourages a lively debate of the issues and the opportunities.”

2020-2021 Budget highlights
Revenue:

• Total projected revenue: KD 14.8 billion, less 6.5 percent than current year’s projections.
• Non-oil revenue: 13 percent of total revenue.

Expenditure:

• Budgeted expenditure: KD 22.5 billion, inline with the current year’s budgeted expenditure.
• Expenditure

Breakdown:

• Salaries and subsidies 71 percent
• Capital expenditure maintained at 16 percent
• Other expenses comprise 13 percent

Fiscal balance:

• Pre-FGF Transfer: KD 7.7 billion
• Post-FGF

Transfer: KD 9.2 billion

• Break-Even point (Pre-FGF transfer) $81/barrel
• Break-Even point (Post-FGF transfer) $86/barrel

News Source: Arab Times