SHORT-TERM EXTERNAL DEBT STOCK HITS USD 130.5BN

The short-term external debt stock surged by 8.5% to USD 130.5bn at the end of February, as compared to the end of 2021, according to the Central Bank. The banks’ short-term external debt stock rose by 6.2% to USD 54.7bn and the short-term external debt of other sectors increased by 7.6% to USD 46.0bn in the same period. The short-term external debt of the public sector, consisting primarily of public banks climbed by 4.9% to USD 23.4bn while the private sector’s short-term external debt rose by 7.4% to USD 77.3bn at the end of February, compared to the end of 2021.