OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus does not rule out the prospects of borrowing on external markets in 2013 if it proved necessary, Belarus’ First Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Amarin told.

“We have not cancelled plans to go to international markets. Everything will depend on external and internal factors. Today we can borrow inside the country, but if conditions are comfortable and if there is an opportunity, we do not rule out the possibility of borrowing on the external market this year,” Amarin said.

As far as hard-currency borrowing is concerned, the Finance Ministry estimates the capacity of the home at USD 300-400 million.

As previously reported with Belarusian Finance Minister Andrei Kharkovets, Belarus is so far not prepared to float eurobonds. “From the point of view of all market factors, we are not prepared. No decision has been made yet,” Kharkovets told reporters on April 19. In his words, the government will focus on borrowing on the domestic market.

Belarus’ Government said in December that the country would place a USD 500-600 million bonds, and according to Nadezhda Yermakova, head of the national central bank, the yield will stand 6-7% annually.

In July 2010, Belarus sold its debut issue of 3-year Eurobonds at 8.75%, and in January 2011 it sold a 7-year USD 800 million issue at 8.95%.

In the meantime, Belarus’ Finance Ministry plans a forth hard-currency bond offering for private households in September 2013, Amarin informed.

As of April 25, the Finance Ministry has raised USD 96 million selling hard-currency bonds to individuals, Amarin informed.