OREANDA-NEWS. April 09, 2012. Gross foreign liabilities of Belarus’ national economy rose 19.8% in January-December 2011 to USD 34.028 billion as of January 1, 2012, which makes 62.3% of the GDP, the National Statistics Committee of Belarus told.

In the fourth quarter alone, Belarus’ external debt expanded by 3.5% in comparison with the third quarter, an increase of USD 1.153 billion.

In money terms the foreign debt grew by USD 5.627 billion in Jan-Dec 2011.

Belarus’ per capital foreign debt as of January 1, 2012 stood at USD 3,595, up 20% since January 2011.

The debt of the central government went up 22.8% in Jan-Dec 2011 to USD 12.351 billion.

Direct foreign investment in Belarus increased 21.8% in Jan-Dec 2011 to USD 1.006 billion.

Commercial banks’ foreign liabilities increased 5.7% to USD 6.077 billion.

Gross foreign liabilities of other sectors of economy increased 31.8% to USD 13.064 billion. Foreign debt of monetary authorities went down 17.5% to USD 1.53 billion.

Belarus channeled USD 6.321 billion to pay off its external liabilities in 2011, including USD 5.405 billion to pay off the principal debt and USD 915.5 million in interest payment. All in all, Belarus paid USD 18.917 billion to take care of its gross external liabilities, which makes 34.6% of the GDP.

In 2010, Belarus’ gross foreign liabilities increased by USD 6.341 billion, or by 28.7%, to total USD 28.401 billion as of January 1, 2011.