Lebanon's economic growth is zero if not negative, leading to pressure on the central bank's foreign currency reserves, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said on Wednesday.
Khalil also said Lebanon will "very soon" start measures to issue about $2 billion of foreign currency bonds.
In response to questions about difficulties some Lebanese have faced in obtaining dollars, Khalil said that "there was not much liquidity in people's hands" but that this had "no impact" and that banks were maintaining the pegged exchange rate.
Khalilwas giving details at a news conference of the 2020 draft state budget, whichis aimed at reducing the deficit. The new budget would include no new taxes orfees, he said.
"Thelevel of growth went back to zero, if not negative, and therefore this matterled to an increase in the pressure on (the central bank) reserve in foreigncurrencies, (and) the accumulation of the deficit in the treasury," Khalilsaid.
Thecost of debt servicing had also moved higher with increased interest rates, hesaid.
One ofthe world's most heavily indebted states, Lebanon is aiming to drive throughlong-postponed reforms to put the public finances on a sustainable path.
The impetus has grown due to a stagnant economy and a slowdown in inflows of hard currency from Lebanese abroad, which has long been a key source of financing for the state and its current account deficit.
