(Prensa Latina) - "Venezuela is working to set the 2008 national budget at $65.1 billion with eyes on meeting growing social demands.

The 2007 budget rounded $53.5 billion plus an additional $8.3 billion, and $40.4 billion in 2006 plus $40 billion in complementary sums.

The cabinet hopes the National Assembly will discuss the project by October but will bear in mind currency re-conversion and the beefed up Bolivar to circulate from January.

A basic element approved this year has been progressive concession of additional credits to secure funds for immediate cabinet project execution but avoiding excess liquidity.

Venezuela's Congress makes annual complementary allocations through additional loans to secure cabinet priorities.

The projects excluded will benefit from funds supplied by the National Development Fund (FONDEN)".