OREANDA-NEWS. February 09, 2010. Belarus’ state foreign debt went up 12.3% on the month in December 2009 to USD 7.891 billion as of January 1, 2010, an official with the Finance Ministry told Monday.

In 2009, the foreign debt increased 110%.

As of January 1, 2010, foreign debt to GDP ratio stood at 16.5%, up from 6.4% on January 1, 2090.

The December increase was due to the fourth tranche of the IMF loan, amounting to USD 688 million, which was extended in December.

Earlier, Belarus received three tranches of the IMF loan – the first USD 787.9 million tranche of the was received in January 2009, the second tranche, amounting to USD 679.2 million, was received in July, and the third USD 699.5 million tranche, in October.

In March 2009, Belarus received a USD 500 million loan from Russia.

Belarus’ main creditors are Russia, Venezuela, Germany, the U.S., the IMF and the World Bank.

In 2008, Belarus’ foreign debt surged 58.9% to USD 3.719 billion as of January 1, 2009.