Brasília, December 9, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The internal indebtedness of the federal government should grow 19.76% next year, attaining a balance of R$ 884.1 billion in December, 2003. Concern over this upward jump in Federal Treasury bill debt was one of the points highlighted in the sectorial report prepared by the Ministries of Finance and Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade on the budget proposal, which authorized 60 amendments, involving resources equivalent to R$ 140.358 million of the R$ 754.608 million solicited.

The value of the internal debt scheduled to be amortized next year was estimated at R$ 582.3 billion, of which R$ 522.1 billion will need to be refinanced. Of this total, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for R$ 512.3 billion, a 138% increase, compared with 2002. Interest payments should consume R$ 93.6 billion in 2003. (DAS)