Hargeysa, Somaliland, 30 May 2008 - The honourable members of the Somaliland House of Representatives have voted to approve the 2008 budget put before them by the Somaliland Ministry of Finance.

In Thursday's session chaired by the Speaker of the House, Mr Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi and attended by 57 members of the 82 seat house including the Speaker. 54 MP's voted to approve the budget whilst 2 MP's voted against the motion. The Speaker of the House did not cast a vote.

The 2008 Budget approved on Thursday by the Somaliland House of Representatives is the largest to date, estimated at $51 million ($51,000,000) an increase of 27% from 2007 budget.

Also, in Thursday's session members of the House of Representatives voted on two motions concerning the recent appointments of two new ministers, the Minister of Rural Development, Mr Mohamed Hagar Dirir and the Minister of State for Education, Mr Mohamed Garad Mohamed.

Both new appointments received approval from the members of the House.

The 2008 budget has been welcomed by the all the government, regional and district workers along with the independent agencies and all of  Somaliland institutions of higher learning, who are expected to gain from the budget.   

Source: Qarannews