Lebanon to launch steps to issue FX bonds very soon - finmin

Reuters
Updated

BEIRUT, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Lebanon will "very soon" start measures to issue bonds in foreign currency of about $2 bln, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said on Wednesday.

Khalil said in April the government was preparing to issue Eurobonds in the range of $2.5 billion to $3 billion to finance state needs. Last week, he said Lebanon was still studying the option of a new debt issuance to pay its debt obligations for the year.

Asked about availability of dollars in Lebanon, he said: "There is not much liquidity in foreign currency in people's hands in the market, but the dollar exchange rate is still maintained in the banks." (Reporting by Ellen Francis/Tom Perry; Editing by Angus MacSwan)