External debt increased in last 6 years by USD 700 mln

The external debt of Moldova constituted USD 2.482 bln, as of late 2006, data from the National Bank show. To draw a comparison, in late 2000 the debt was roughly USD 1.725 bln. Therefore, over the last 6 years the debt increased by USD 717 mln. The external debt includes the governmental sector as well as the private one. The biggest external debt increase occurred last year, when the debt went up USD 402 mln. In 2001 the external debt diminished, going down to USD 1.68 bln; in 2002 it was about USD 1.821 bln, in 2003 – USD 1.9 bln, in 2004 – USD 1.897 bln, and in 2005 – USD 2.08 bln. At the end of last year the debt of the governmental sector constituted USD 718.62 mln and has diminished compared to 2000 by nearly USD 98 mln. Nevertheless, compared to 2005 the debt of the government has increased by USD 61 mln. As for the commercial banks, at the end of last year they still owed about USD 150.1 mln; monetary authorities had an external debt of about USD 141 mln and the other USD 1.1 bln referred to another sectors of economy. The debts from the direct investments were USD 366 mln.