DUSHANBE, January 26, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s public debt rose 118.4 million U.S. dollars in a year to December 31, 2012, reaching 2.16941 billion U.S. dollars, Minister of Finance, Safarali Najmiddinov, told a news conference on January 25.
On the debt-to-GDP ratio, which is one of indicators of the health of an economy, Najmiddinov noted that last year’s Tajikistan public debt-to-GDP ratio was 28.5 percent.
“Government’s direct debt now amounts to 1.9 billion U.S. dollars and is equivalent to 25.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP),” the minister said.
In 2012, Tajikistan reportedly signed 18 loan grant agreement for a total amount of 346.9 million U.S. dollars, including 11 grant agreements for a total amount of 215.1 million U.S. dollars.
Last year, the national budget earmarked 75.8 million U.S. dollars for repayment of the principal debt and 33.4 million U.S. dollars for repayment of debt interest.
The national budget for 2103 projects 133.4 million U.S. dollars for the external debt service: 100.4 million U.S. dollars fro principal debt payments and 33 million U.S. dollars for debt interest payments.
