The gross external debt of the Republic of Moldova reached US$ 6,549.23 million at the end of Q II 2017, increasing by US$ 313.99 million (5.0%) as compared to the end of 2016.

The international investment position of the Republic of Moldova recorded a net debit of US$ 3,958.60 million as of 30.06.2017, 11.6 % larger as compared to the end of 2016.

In January-June 2017, the current account of the balance of payments recorded a deficit of US$ 307.22 million (of which US$ 187.17 in quarter II 2017), which worsened by 77.8 percent as compared to January-June 2016. The capital account registered a deficit of US$ 13.16 million (of which US$ 6.47 million in quarter II 2017) and the financial account recorded a net capital inflow of US$ 162.76 million (of which US$ 111.48 million in quarter II 2017).

The decision adopted by the Executive Board of the NBM aims to create real monetary conditions able to maintain the inflation within the range of ± 1.5 percentage points from the 5.0 percent target on medium-term.

In August 2017, the total amount of net money transfers from abroad made in favour of individuals via licensed banks of the Republic of Moldova amounted to US$ 106.02 million (increasing by 9.5% as against August 2016).

Weighted average interest rate on new loans in national currency granted in August 2017 was 9.76 percent, decreasing by 3.95 percentage points compared to the same period last year. Average interest rate on term deposits attracted in national currency was 5.78 percent, decreasing by 2.46 percentage points compared to August 2016

In August 2017, monetary base increased by MDL 388.0 million (1.1 percent) compared to the previous month and accounted for MDL 36321.9 million.

The activity of the National Bank of Moldova on the foreign exchange market (foreign exchange interventions) is performed in strict compliance with the monetary and foreign exchange policy objectives.

The non-cash foreign exchange market of the Republic of Moldova is determined by the turnover of purchase/sale transactions of the foreign currency that have taken place on different segments of the market, except those performed by the National Bank of Moldova.

The decision adopted by the Executive Board of the NBM aims to create real monetary conditions able to maintain the inflation within the range of ± 1.5 percentage points from the 5.0 percent target on medium-term.

In July 2017, the total amount of net money transfers from abroad made in favour of individuals via licensed banks of the Republic of Moldova amounted to US$ 105.30 million (increasing by 8.4% as against July 2016).

The signed memorandum opens new opportunities to extend the technical assistance in the banking field and to attract the expertise of the EU central banks.

n July 2017, monetary base increased by MDL 41.9 million (0.1 percent) compared to the previous month and accounted for MDL 35933.9 million.

Weighted average interest rate on new loans in national currency granted in July 2017 was 10.00 percent, decreasing by 4.01 percentage points compared to the same period last year

The non-cash foreign exchange market of the Republic of Moldova is determined by the turnover of purchase/sale transactions of the foreign currency that have taken place on different segments of the market, except those performed by the National Bank of Moldova.

The activity of the National Bank of Moldova on the foreign exchange market (foreign exchange interventions) is performed in strict compliance with the monetary and foreign exchange policy objectives.

In July 2017, annual inflation rate was 7.3 percent, being similar to that of the previous month and in line with the NBM last forecast.

In the second quarter of 2017, the total amount of money transfers from abroad made in favour of individuals of the Republic of Moldova amounted to USD 299.91 million.

The annual inflation rate will also continue to record a higher level in the third quarter of 2017, after which it will fall rapidly to the lower limit of the target range.

Representatives from Kroll and Steptoe & Johnson met with representatives of the NBM, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, the Anticorruption Centre and the Agency for the Recovery of Criminal Assets in Chisinau on 20 July 2017.