The aggregate state (direct) and state-guaranteed debt of Ukraine in January decreased by 0.25%, or by $190 million, to $76.11 billion, according to the website of the Ministry of Finance.
In the national currency the state debt decreased by 0.46%, or by UAH 9.82 billion, to UAH 2.132 trillion.
According to the report, public debt in January fell by 0.04%, to UAH 1.833 trillion (in dollars it grew by 0.17%, to $65.44 billion), in particular external rose by 0.67%, to UAH 1.088 billion (in dollars by 0.88%, to $38.83 billion).
The state-guaranteed debt in January declined by 2.94%, to UAH 298.9 billion (in dollars it decreased by 2.74%, to $10.67 billion), in particular external debt by 3.08%, to UAH 285.6 billion (in dollars by 2.88%, to $10.2 billion).
The ministry said the principal amount of the national debt was nominated in U.S. dollars – 41.65%, another 30.38% in the hryvnia, 18.82% in special drawing rights, and 7.96% in euros. In addition, less than 1% of the national debt is denominated in Canadian dollars and yen.
The official hryvnia exchange rate, which the Finance Ministry used to calculate the debt, strengthened in January to UAH 28.01/$1 from UAH 28.07/$1 or by 0.21%.
As reported, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine forecasts the increase in the ceiling state-guaranteed debt by the end of 2018 to UAH 747.6 billion from UAH 579.4 billion announced in the 2017 national budget.
So far, it is expected that at the end of 2018 the direct state debt will not exceed UAH 1.999 trillion, while at the end of 2017 it should not exceed UAH 1.824 trillion. (Interfax-Ukraine/Business World Magazine)
