On November 30, Minsk / Anna Kot - BELTA /. The Government of Belarus has allowed the secondary circulation of foreign currency government bonds on the domestic market. This is stipulated by Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 1086 of November 27 of the current year, officially published today on the National Legal Internet Portal, reports BELTA correspondent. The resolution entered into force on the day of its adoption. The document expands the opportunities of the Ministry of Finance of Belarus for the primary placement of currency bonds on the domestic market. Now, the Ministry of Finance can not only sell foreign currency bonds directly to legal entities but also place them at auction through the Belarusian Currency and Stock Exchange. The rules for conducting these auctions are determined by the Ministry of Finance. The resolution also clarifies that government bonds denominated in foreign currency placed on the domestic market can be short-term and long-term with interest income. The possibility of issuing foreign currency government bonds with coupon income has been cancelled. "This resolution has been adopted to improve the conditions for the placement and circulation of government securities denominated in foreign currency, and will contribute to the development and liquidity of the foreign currency government bond market," the press service of the Ministry of Finance notes. "The document provides for the exclusion of the norm limiting the possibility of buying and selling transactions with foreign currency government bonds on the secondary market. In order to ensure a public and operational mechanism for placing government securities among a wide range of investors, the resolution provides for the possibility of placing bonds at auction conducted by the Ministry of Finance through OJSC Belarusian Currency and Stock Exchange." In October, the Ministry of Finance began placing foreign currency bonds on the domestic market of Belarus. Since then, four issues have been placed for a total amount of $218 million at 7.5% per annum for a term of three to three and a half years. Buyers were residents of Belarus, including BelVEB Bank and Belarusbank. In addition, in the second half of December, the Ministry of Finance plans to offer foreign currency bonds to individuals. Experts note that allowing foreign currency government bonds to circulate on the secondary market will increase the state's borrowing opportunities, lead to a significant increase in the liquidity of the foreign currency government bond market, and attract non-resident investors. -0-

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