Belarus' gold, forex reserves up 14.2% to $8.5bn in August

According to the preliminary data, Belarus' gold and foreign currency reserves totaled $8,496.7 billion as of 1 September 2021, BelTA learned from the Information and PR Department of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.

In August 2021, the country's gold and foreign currency reserves went up by $1,054.3 million (by 14.2%) following the July increase of $33 million (0.4%).

The increase in the volume of the gold and foreign exchange reserves in August 2021 was mainly due to the allocation of special drawing rights of the International Monetary Fund, the purchase of foreign currency by the National Bank via the Belarusian Currency Stock Exchange and the foreign currency budget revenue.

In August 2021 the government and the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus honored the foreign and domestic obligations in foreign currency in the amount of about $340 million.

According to the country's monetary guidelines for 2021, the volume of international reserve assets is expected to make up at least $6 billion on 1 January 2022.