The Ministry of Economy forecasts that in 2005 the hryvnia exchange rate will fluctuate at the level of 5.0-5.1 UAH/USD. This was stated by Economy Minister Serhiy Teriokhin, speaking on Friday at the forum "Government and Business - Partners," reports "Ukrainian News." \n \nTeriokhin emphasized that the projected strengthening of the hryvnia exchange rate will become possible in particular thanks to agreements between the Ministry of Economy and the National Bank, which will be announced in the near future. \n \nRecall that the hryvnia exchange rate on the interbank market on March 10 strengthened by 0.05 kopecks from 5.2855 to 5.2850 UAH/USD. \n \nThe NBU raised the official hryvnia exchange rate set by it for March 11-13 by 0.04 kopecks to 5.2971 UAH/USD. \n \nSince the beginning of the current year, the hryvnia exchange rate on the interbank market has strengthened by 0.39% from 5.3056 UAH/USD. \n \nIn 2004, the hryvnia exchange rate on the interbank market strengthened by 0.48% from 5.3310 UAH/USD; in 2003, the hryvnia on the interbank market strengthened by 0.1% from 5.3365 UAH/USD.