N. Macedonia's public debt at 58.6% of GDP at end-Mar

In the first quarter, the government issued 219.2 million euro in securities and withdrew 175.5 million euro from credit arrangements with foreign creditors, the ministry said in a statement earlier this week.

The government also provided 57.6 million euro in loans to state-owned enterprises, and paid 82.7 million euro towards external debt principal obligations in the first three months of the year.

The government anticipates a public debt equivalent to 59.3% of projected GDP by the end of 2024, according to an earlier statement by the finance ministry.

($ = 0.933 euro)