Kuwait to tap foreign debt markets to finance deficit

AFP, KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait said yesterday it plans to tap the international debt market through bond issues to finance its budget deficit after recording a first shortfall in 16 years.
The oil-rich Gulf state plans to "borrow up to three billion dinars ($10 billion) in US-denominated bonds from international markets, in both conventional and (Islamic) sukuk issuance," Finance Minister Anas al-Saleh told parliament.
The ministry will borrow another two billion Kuwaiti dinars ($6.6 billion) in both conventional and Islamic instruments from the domestic market, Saleh said.
It will be the country's first foreign debt in around two decades.
The borrowings will take place during the 2016/2017 fiscal year, which began April 1 and end next March 31, the minister said, without giving specific dates.
Saleh said the finance ministry has already borrowed $2.5 billion from the domestic market.
Saleh, who is also acting oil minister, said Kuwait recorded its first budget deficit of 5.5 billion dinars ($18.3 billion) in the 2015/2016 fiscal year.

Kuwait to tap foreign debt markets to finance deficit

AFP, KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait said yesterday it plans to tap the international debt market through bond issues to finance its budget deficit after recording a first shortfall in 16 years. The oil-rich Gulf state plans to borrow up to three billion dinars ($10 billion) in US-denominated bonds from international markets, in both conventional and (Islamic) sukuk issuance, Finance Minister Anas al-Saleh told parliament. The ministry will borrow another two billion Kuwaiti dinars ($6.6 billion) in both conventional and Islamic instruments from the domestic market, Saleh said. It will be the countrys first foreign debt in around two decades. The borrowings will take place during the 2016/2017 fiscal year, which began April 1 and end next March 31, the minister said, without giving specific dates. Saleh said the finance ministry has already borrowed $2.5 billion from the domestic market. Saleh, who is also acting oil minister, said Kuwait recorded its first budget deficit of 5.5 billion dinars ($18.3 billion) in the 2015/2016 fiscal year.