A small country that has a lot of debt and is turning to a big financial institution might not be getting the best deal here. Working with one of these large multilateral lenders like the IMF can be a good option but it often comes with different caveats, says John Defterios. "We're going to hear more about both leases experienced with blue bonds in just a little bit"
There’s a new way for some countries struggling under piles of debt to get relief: by agreeing to spend part of the difference on the environment. The Nature Conservancy, the US-based environmental group, is teaming up with big financial institutions to offer what’s called Blue Bonds, or debt-for-nature swaps. The bank alleviates some of the country’s debt burden, and the government puts the savings toward restoring coral reefs and other environmental projects. Belize and the Seychelles are among a handful of nations that have taken the offer so far, and many more are in the works.
Bloomberg journalists Sydney Maki and Natasha White join this episode to explain how these complex deals work–and who’s profiting from the bargain.
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