Belarus seeks a new loan from Russia
Belarus is in talks with Russia to obtain a new loan of Rur 100 billion, Belarusian deputy prime minister Andrei Kabyakou said in a statement. The first round of negotiations took place on January 22. Kabyakou noted that Rur 100 billion was "quite a relative amount". Belarus needs this money to maintain trade with Russia. "This loan is needed in order to back up companies in Belarus and Russia that have a mutual interest in cooperation but are unable to obtain loans on acceptable interest rates", the deputy prime minister explained.
Kabyakou noted that Belarus' request for a loan matched the goal of the Russian leadership to make the Russian rouble a regional currency in the former Soviet republics. The Belarusian official said that 90 percent of the Belarusian export to Russia was paid for by the Russian roubles, while 40 percent of the imports were covered by the Russian currency and 60 percent -- by the US dollars and euros.
Kabyakou noted that Belarus' request for a loan matched the goal of the Russian leadership to make the Russian rouble a regional currency in the former Soviet republics. The Belarusian official said that 90 percent of the Belarusian export to Russia was paid for by the Russian roubles, while 40 percent of the imports were covered by the Russian currency and 60 percent -- by the US dollars and euros.
