Gross external debt down in Q1-Q3 – central bank

December 15, Pozirk. Belarus’ gross external debt decreased by 7.9 percent to $36.7 billion in January-September 2023, the National Bank said.

The public sector owed $17.2 billion, a decrease of 7.2 percent. Banks, including the central bank, owed $5.4 billion and other sectors $12.1 billion, down 15.9 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively. Direct investment debt contracted by 2.9 percent to $2.1 billion.

Unlike the national debt – the government’s liabilities to nonresidents – the gross external debt is the liabilities of all residents in the four sectors of the economy: government agencies, monetary authorities, banks (excluding the central bank), individuals and corporations.