Moldova's external debt increased by US$756.61 million (43.8 %) over the past six years and amounted to US$2 billion 482.07 million at the end of last year, data of the National Bank of Moldova show.

The total external debt, comprising the public and private sectors' debts, increased on average by 10.1% annually, except in 2001 and 2004, when it reduced compared to the previous years with more than US$44 million and respectively US$39 million. The biggest raise of the external debt produced in 2006, when it increased by US$402 million (more than 19%) compared to the previous year.

According to BNM, at the end of 2006, public sector's debt reduced by about US$100 million (12%) compared to the beginning of 2001, and amounted to US$718.62 million. At the same, the public debt increased by more than 9% (US$60.6 million) compared with 2005. At the end of last year, the public debt accounted for about 29% of the total external debt. // BASA-Press