DUSHANBE, April 20, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s foreign debt has grown some 44.5 million U.S. dollars over the first three months of this year, according to the Ministry of Finance (Mo).
The source at a MoF says the debt has increased from 1.9428 billion U.S. dollars to 1.98707 billion U.S. dollars as of April 1, 2011. “According to the preliminary data, the foreign debt now amounts to 31.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP),” he noted.
According to him, the external debt includes the government’s direct debt estimated at 1.8197 billion U.S. dollars, the debt of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) estimated at 123.1 million U.S. dollars, borrowings in an amount of 23.8 million U.S. dollars guaranteed by the government and 20.2 million U.S. dollars of debts without government guarantee.
The national budget for 2011 reportedly earmarks 190.6 million somoni (equivalent to US$39.7 million) for repayment of the principal and 159 million somoni (US$33.1 million) for repayment of the debt interest.
Long-term preferential loans from international financial institutions form the bulk of the country’s external debt.
Tajikistan’s largest creditors are China’s Exim Bank – US$746.7 million, the World Bank – US$384.3 million, the Asian Development Bank – US$340.52 million, the Islamic Development Bank – US$91.3 million, the European Union – US$39.4 million, Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development – US$28.4 million, the United States – US$12.3 million, and Iran – US$16.2 million.
As far as Tajikistan’s debt to Uzbekistan is concerned, it is estimated at US$32.4 million and expected to be repaid until 2016, the source said.
