EUROPE/AFRICA

摘要

Belarus is hoping to take advantage of the reduced sanctions on the country by having another crack at the Eurobond market, almost a year after sending out a request for proposals for a deal that was eventually postponed. Minsk will need to raise US$1.5bn in order to balance its 2016 budget, Sberbank analysts quoted Belarusian finance minister Vladimir Amarin as saying. Around US$1bn is expected to come from the Eurobond market, though some or all of that is expected to refinance FX debt or boost international reserves. "The easing of the sanction regime reopens Belarus' access to international capital markets making the planned Eurobond issue a reasonable step," said Sberbank in a research note. The European Union and US lifted some sanctions on Belarus at the end of October after Minsk agreed to release political prisoners from captivity. Sberbank added: "Considering the dearth of offers on EM primary markets, the CIS market in particular, demand for the paper will likely be high."