KYIV. Aug 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The National Bank of Ukraine intends by the end of the year to increase international reserves to at least $15 billion to implement the world’s recognized indicator of reserves adequacy to cover three months of imports, NBU Head Valeriya Gontareva has said in an interview with the Focus magazine.
“We plan by the end of the year to increase forex reserves to $18 billion. This is certainly ambitious plans, while the minimum objective for us is $15 billion, which cover three months of imports,” she said.
Speaking about cleaning the banking system, the NBU head noted it has been completed. Now the National Bank moves to the second stage: to restart it, while seeking a full disclosure of the structure of their ultimate owners.
“We consider 44 banks as non-transparent. In the course of analysis this figure could increase. Of these 44 banks two have been recognized problem, 14 banks got a notification from us that their ownership structures are officially recognized as non-transparent,” Gontareva said.
As reported, the NBU international reserves in July increased by $112 million, or by 1.1%, to $10.375 billion. In early August the National Bank received the $1.7 billion second tranche of the EFF program from the International Monetary Fund.
