Colombian external debt rises 5.3 percent, falls as portion of GDP

Combined Colombian public and private external rose to US$45.6 billion
in June, a 5.3 percent increase from last year, but a lesser proportion
of GDP, reported the Bank of the Republic.

External debt was fell from 24 percent of GDP a year before to 21.4 percent in June, reported La Republica.

Private external debt growth outstripped public, with the former gaining 5.8 percent to settle at US$16.3 billion, while the latter rose five percent to US$29.3 billion.

Most of the debts are long-term obligations, in form of loans and bonds. Only 12.4 percent are on short-term contracts.