S. Korea earmarks 22.6 tln won for infrastructure next year

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will set aside 22.6 trillion won (US$19.8 billion) for social infrastructure projects next year in order to help bolster regional economies, the finance ministry said Wednesday.
The spending plan is part of the government's 2012 budget proposal that will soon be finalized and submitted to parliament for approval, according to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.
The social overhead capital budget is lower than 24.4 trillion won assigned for this year but when the spending on the near-completed project to refurbish the nation's four major rivers and preparation for the 2012 Yeosu Expo is excluded, the amount increased 1.2 trillion won, the ministry said.
The government will use part of the money to strengthen the nation's overall infrastructure. Also, part of the budget will be spent to help small and medium-sized companies and expand investment in new growth engines as well as the green and service sectors, according to the ministry.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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