International reserves recovered in the nineties and at the end of 1997, they were US$ 11.3 billion, including gold, and representing 13 months of imports. Requirements to the banking sector are a great portion of the total, because 30% of their dollar deposits must go to the Central Reserve Bank. When foreign investment growth became slow from 1998 to 2001, reserves were used to cover external financing needs. At the end of 2001 they were US$ 8.9 billion and at the end of 2003, US$ 10.2 billion.