Session 2: The Impact of the Pandemic on Debt Management

The role and priorities of debt management offices (DMOs) has in many cases changed over the 18 months due to the impact of the pandemic. As many governments have had to manage a significant increase in funding requirements, DMO priorities have focused more on meeting the financing needs and less on managing the debt in accordance with the medium-term debt strategy. The increased borrowing has impacted public debt levels which are showing signs across many countries of increasing risk of debt distress.

The work environment for DMOs has changed too through lock downs, work from home and restrictions on staff numbers, and the need to use video-conference facilities for communication with financial institutions, the market players, across government and within the DMO. This session will draw on the experiences of experts from a selection of debt management offices to outline the impact the pandemic has had on their debt levels, their debt management strategies and operations, along with the challenges that they are facing in the current environment.

Speakers:
Mr. Kenneth Ian A. Francisco, Chief of Financial Market Monitoring and Analysis Division, Bureau of the Treasury, Philippines
Mr. Riko Amir, Director of Strategy and Portfolio Financing, Directorate General of Budget Financing and Risk Management, MOF, Indonesia
Mr. Irakli Katcharava, Deputy Head of Public Debt Management Department, Ministry of Finance, Georgia
MOF, Lao PDR
Mrs. Chhun Virakvathana, Deputy Director, Debt Management Department, GDICDM, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Cambodia

Moderator: Mr. Deepak Taneja, Principal Treasury Specialist, ADB