December 1, Minsk / Anna Kot - BELTA /. The National Bank of Belarus has directed $2.5 billion from the sale of 50% of OAO "Beltransgaz" shares into gold and foreign exchange reserves, the BELTA correspondent was informed by the information department of the National Bank. Yesterday, the National Bank of Belarus received $2.5 billion from the sale of 50% of "Beltransgaz" shares. As a result, according to preliminary data, Belarus's gold and foreign exchange reserves increased by $2.74 billion last month and, as of December 1, amounted to $7.38 billion according to the IMF definition, and exceeded $8.92 billion in equivalent according to the national definition, the National Bank noted. The information department added that in addition to the inflow of funds from the sale of "Beltransgaz" shares, the conversion of non-reserve assets into reserve assets contributed to the increase in gold and foreign exchange reserves. "Further build-up of gold and foreign exchange reserves is a priority task of the government and the National Bank," the National Bank emphasized. -0-

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