Moldovan Parliament passed in the second reading amendments to the Law on State Budget for 2023, adjusting the sources of its financing.
According to the document, the sources of financing of the state budget for 2023 will be adjusted at the expense of a loan granted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to maintain Moldova's energy security by ensuring uninterrupted supplies of natural gas to consumers in 2023-2024. The Finance Ministry said that, in particular, the draft law envisages an increase in the volume of external credits and the on-lending of Energocom within the project "Moldova Gas Security Supply" for 2 billion 051 million 288 thousand lei. The respective funds are meant to replenish the strategic reserves of natural gas for the cold season (2023-2024), acquired by Energocom. As a result, it is necessary to adjust the external debt balance as of December 31, 2023, and the Law on State Budget for 2023 is amended accordingly. According to estimates, the balance of the external state debt on December 31, 2023 will not exceed 74 billion 523.8 million lei ($3 billion 959.8 million), which is an increase of 5 billion 727.4 million lei (+8.3%) against the previously approved indicator. As a result, the share of the state debt balance in the GDP as of December 31, 2023 will amount to 36.7% and will increase by 1.9 p.p., compared to the previously approved value. At the same time, as of the end of 2023, the share of external government debt in the structure of government debt will amount to 65.1%, while the share of domestic debt will amount to 34.9%. // 18.12.2023 - InfoMarket.
