DUSHANBE, July 23, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s external debt has grown 47.75 million U.S. dollars overt the first six months of this year, reaching 2.1273 billion U.S. dollars, Deputy Minister of Finance, Jamoliddin Nouraliyev, told journalists in Dushanbe on July 23.

According to him, current external debt is equal to 29.7 percent of Tajikistan’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The external debt includes the government’s direct debt estimated at 940.53 million, the debt of the National Bank of Tajikistan estimated at US$140 million, borrowings guaranteed by the government and debts without government guarantee, the deputy minister said.

Long-term preferential loans from international financial institutions reportedly form the bulk of the country’s external debt.

Tajikistan’s main creditors now include the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) – US$878 million, the World Bank – US$371.27, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – US$333.02 million, and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) – US$103.58 million.

Over the first six months of this year, the national budget has earmarked 32.27 million U.S. dollars for repayment of the principal debt and 15.27 million U.S. dollars for repayment of the debt interests, Nouraliyev said.