Oman Plans to Prepay $1.33 Bn Loans

Oman continues to manage and reduce the public debt portfolio (Oman News Agency)
Oman continues to manage and reduce the public debt portfolio (Oman News Agency)
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Oman Plans to Prepay $1.33 Bn Loans

Oman continues to manage and reduce the public debt portfolio (Oman News Agency)
Oman continues to manage and reduce the public debt portfolio (Oman News Agency)

Oman's public revenues increased 49.9 percent by the end of May 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, to reach $13.8 billion compared to $9.2 billion in May last year.

Oman is planning to pay off $1.33 billion of financing this month ahead of its due date, the first of its kind in the region.

The Sultanate uses prepayments, bond buybacks, and local debt sales to replace high-cost funds and improve its maturity profile.

The government expects to save $330 million from these moves, which will be spent on projects that will boost its credit ratings and investor confidence.

Meanwhile, the Muscat Stock Exchange has decided to list sovereign Sukuk on the bond and Sukuk market of the local bourse, worth $388.5 million.

The government's efforts to reduce public debt, crowned with success, benefited from the fluctuating interest rates in the global debt markets and the rise in oil revenues.

By the end of July, Oman's debt is expected to decrease to $48.1 billion compared to the end of 2021, which amounted to $53.8 billion.

The government confirmed that it is moving forward to use the additional financial revenues to reduce the state's public debt and accelerate economic recovery.

The increase in Oman's public revenues is mainly due to the rise in average oil prices to about $82 per barrel, average production quantity to about 1.034 million barrels per day, and total oil and gas revenues.

Total public spending until the end of last May amounted to $12 billion, a 5.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2021, due to the rise in current expenses to $9.6 billion compared to the same period in 2021.

The state's general budget achieved a financial surplus by May 2022, amounting to about $1.6 billion, compared to a financial deficit of $2.3 billion in the same period in 2021.

The achieved financial surpluses will promote economic recovery by increasing spending on development projects and reducing the state's public debt.



German Coalition Reaches Breakthrough on 2025 Budget, Financial Plan

A German flag blows in the wind in front of a stack of containers at the harbour in Hamburg, Germany, February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A German flag blows in the wind in front of a stack of containers at the harbour in Hamburg, Germany, February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
TT

German Coalition Reaches Breakthrough on 2025 Budget, Financial Plan

A German flag blows in the wind in front of a stack of containers at the harbour in Hamburg, Germany, February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A German flag blows in the wind in front of a stack of containers at the harbour in Hamburg, Germany, February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

The leaders of Germany's three-party coalition on Friday achieved a breakthrough in negotiations on the national budget for 2025, dpa has learnt from government sources.

The coalition leaders have also reached a preliminary deal on a financial plan to secure additional economic growth of more than 0.5% - worth an estimated €26 million ($28 million) - in the coming year.

Sources told dpa that the coalition plans to stick with strict rules against budget deficits, known as the debt brake, banking on a significant increase in economic output to overcome shortfalls in government spending.

The breakthrough comes after weeks of negotiations between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens and Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP).

The key sticking point has been a €10 billion deficit in government expenditure, with Lindner's FDP refusing to sideline the debt brake to allow for additional borrowing and investments, and the SPD ruling out any cuts to welfare spending.

Sources told dpa that the new deal includes a supplementary budget totalling €11 billion to overcome lower-than-expected tax revenues and higher government spending.