The latest surveys by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Monetary Authority, released today, Tuesday, show that the international investment position in Palestine at the end of the second quarter of this year amounted to $3.397 million, an increase of 2% compared to the previous quarter.
According to the joint statement, the total balance of the Palestinian economy’s assets invested abroad reached $9,514 million, distributed between direct foreign investment at 3%, portfolio investments at 17%, other investments (mainly currency and deposits) at 67%, and reserve assets at 13%.
On the other hand, the total balance of foreign liabilities (obligations) on the Palestinian economy (balances of non-residents invested in Palestine) amounted to 53% at the end of the second quarter of 2023, consisting of direct foreign investment.
At the sectoral level, the external investments of the banking sector (balances abroad, cash in funds, and portfolio investments abroad) constituted 66% of the total foreign assets of the Palestinian economy.
The results also indicate that 58% of the total balance of foreign assets of the Palestinian economy are currency and deposits at the end of the second quarter of 2023, due to the absence of a national Palestinian currency.
In contrast, the total balance of foreign liabilities (obligations) on the Palestinian economy (balances of non-residents invested in Palestine) amounted to about $6,117 million, distributed between direct foreign investment at 53%, portfolio investments at 13%, and other investments (mainly loans and deposits from abroad) at about 34%.
At the sectoral level, foreign investments in the banking sector accounted for about 35% of the total foreign liabilities on the Palestinian economy.
Preliminary results indicated that the total balance of external debt in the Palestinian economic sectors reached about $2,109 million at the end of the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 3% compared to the previous quarter.
This was distributed between debt in the government sector at 62%, the banking sector at 35% (deposits of non-residents in banks operating in Palestine), and other sectors (non-banking financial companies, non-financial companies, NGOs, and households) at 2%, and intercompany borrowing at 1%.
