Germany has signed an agreement to forgive half the 1.084 billion euro (USD 1.48 billion) debt it is owed by Myanmar, implementing a plan which Germany and other creditor nations accepted a year ago.
The state-owned Myanma Ahlin newspaper reported today that the agreement was signed the previous day in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw, during a state visit by German President Joachim Gauck, the first by a German head of state in 26 years. Germany's finance and development ministries confirmed the signing.
The Paris Club of 19 mostly Western creditor countries agreed in January last year on a debt forgiveness formula to help stabilise Myanmar's economy as the country transitions to democracy after five decades of military rule.
Yesterday's agreement also calls for the remaining 542 million euros (USD 740 million) in debt to be paid back within 15 years at 3 per cent interest, Myanma Ahlin reported. Myanmar accumulated USD 8.4 billion in foreign debt during the socialist regime of the late Gen.
Ne Win from 1962 to 1988, and USD 2.61 billion under the military junta that took over in 1988 and yielded power to an elected government in 2011. Current President Thein Sein instituted political and economic reforms after coming to office to help the country's ailing economy.
The breakthrough in dealing with the country's external debt problem came in January last year, when Japan agreed to provide a bridge loan to Myanmar to cover outstanding debt to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, totaling about USD 900 million.
Norway has committed to a complete cancellation of claims to money owed by Myanmar.
