###Jean-Deboutte, Directory of Strategy,....>

BELGIUM: ###Jean-Deboutte, Directory of Strategy, Risk & Investor Relations at

the Belgian Debt Agency was pleased with the result of yesterday's E3.5bln Olo

auction sold at the maximum end of the pre-announced range. 

- According to the Belgium Debt Agency website, 91.4% of originally planned 2017

Olo issuance has been achieved. But Mr Deboutte points out "We now have

completed 81.54% of our planned long-term funding for 2017 (32.01 out of 39.25

billion, consisting of 35.00 billion of OLOs, 4.00 billion of EMTN/Schuldscheine

and 0.25 billion of State Notes).

- Mr Deboutte says that "No EMTN or Schuldscheine have been issued as of today,

and we have been stepping up OLO issuance to cover the shortfall".

- Deboutte adds: "We would like to keep our T-bill portfolio stable over the

year, so there will be no shift from bill to OLO issuance. Pre-funding is

planned to amount to E3.63bln (announced last December); there are no (legal)

limitations and we could do more, or less, than this amount."