RIYADH, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is expected to tap the international debt markets to finance a projected budget deficit in 2023-2024, the finance ministry said, against a backdrop of lower oil prices and the country's extended oil production cuts.
Both deficits are estimated at 161 billion riyals ($43 billion).
Saudi Arabia is working to prepare an annual borrowing plan in accordance with a medium-term debt strategy and "access global debt markets to enhance the kingdom's position in international markets", the finance ministry said.
This has pushed total revenue estimates for 2023 up to 1,180 billion riyals from an earlier projection of 1,130 billion riyals, the finance ministry said.
Meanwhile, total expenditure is seen rising to 1,262 billion riyals in 2023, from an earlier estimate of 1,114 billion riyals, before slowing down marginally to 1,251 billion riyals in 2024.
Persons:
Aziz El Yaakoubi, Jane Merriman
Organizations:
Saudi Aramco, Al, Thomson
Locations:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, Al Rajhi