Executive pays over USD 2.6 billion debts

Luanda, Luanda – At least USD 2.6 billion is the amount of debt paid by the Angolan State between 2003 and 2010 to domestic and foreign creditors, said on Friday in Luanda the minister of Finance, Carlos Lopes. According to the government minister, in 2003 were paid USD 380 million, in 2004, USD 271 million, in 2005, USD 354 million, in 2006, USD 363 million, in 2007, USD 444 million, in 2008, USD 513 million in 2009, USD 259 million and in 2010 USD 69 million. The minister of Finance was speaking during a conference promoted by the Political bureau of the ruling MPLA party with the participation of national businessmen under the theme “Building a strong diversified economy and the centre of national decision” said that the payment by the Angolan State of total debt was made through the insurance of treasury bonds. The minister added that the State borrows the money to pay its creditors by issuing bonds until December 2011 and has retuned the money through the bonds. With this, the stock of such bonds measured by 31 December 2011 stands at USD 644 million and the State paid with the issuing interest amounting in USD 325 million, said the official, stressing that these are the financial efforts made by the Angolan State to settle the debt from 2003 to 2010.