The OMFIF Podcast

Max Castelli, head of strategy, sovereign institutions, and Philipp Salman, director of strategy and advice, global sovereign markets, UBS Asset Management, join Taylor Pearce, senior economist at OMFIF, to discuss what’s in store for global public investors in 2024. The discussion identifies opportunities and risks for reserve managers and sovereign wealth funds amid evolving market dynamics, including falling inflation, headwinds to China’s economy and a resilient US economy albeit looming political risks.   You can find the full transcript here.

Environmental, social and governance data is integral to scaling up sustainable finance and investment. With increasing regulation and demand for information, it’s also crucial for organisations and businesses. Sherry Madera, chief executive officer of CDP, joins John Orchard, OMFIF chief executive officer, to discuss how data can improve the quality of a company, how datasets are evolving to support the mobilisation of institutional investor demand in ESG assets and the importance of data to leadership.   To find out more, Madera’s book Navigating Sustainability Data: How Organizations can use ESG Data to Secure Their Future is now available to buy.

Siegfried Ruhl, hors classe adviser to the director-general for budget at the European Commission, joins Burhan Khadbai, head of content at OMFIF’s Sovereign Debt Institute, to discuss upcoming priorities for the European Union as it continues its rapid journey towards sovereign status in the capital markets. They discuss the EU’s recent launch of quoting commitments for its primary dealers and the EU Issuance Service, as well as plans to launch a repo facility and futures market. The discussion also touches on the evolution of the EU’s investor base and its status as a safe asset and global benchmark.

Gregory Makoff, author of new book Default: The Landmark Court Battle over Argentina's $100 Billion Debt Restructuring joins OMFIF US Chair Mark Sobel to discuss Argentina's nearly two-decades-long sovereign debt litigation following the 2001 default. Both review the spectacular blow-up of the Argentine economy, the litigation's timeline and the US government's role at various junctures.   You can find the transcript of this podcast here. 

To transition to a sustainable economy, new investment models are needed. Financial flows into emerging economies must be also scaled. Blended finance and public-private collaboration will be integral in supporting increased investment and mitigating risk perception. David Carlin, head of risk, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, joins OMFIF’s Emma McGarthy, head, Sustainable Policy Institute, to discuss transition finance, takeaways from COP28 and his expectations for the year ahead.

Vera Songwe, a non-resident senior fellow in the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution and co-chair of the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance, joins Katerina Atkins, programme coordinator at OMFIF’s Sustainable Policy Institute, to explore the key outcomes and challenges from the COP28 climate summit. They discuss the agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, the conclusion of the first global stocktake, the loss and damage fund, as well as the financial needs and innovative financing mechanisms to address climate change.

Max Castelli, head of strategy, sovereign institutions, and Philipp Salman, director of strategy and advice, global sovereign markets, UBS Asset Management, join Taylor Pearce, senior economist at OMFIF, to discuss macroeconomic challenges marked by exogenous shocks. They explore the short- and long-term outlook for inflation and the potential for a 'higher-for-longer' interest rate environment. The discussion touches on the equilibrium real interest rate, global factors influencing government debt dynamics, the potential productivity and growth implications of artificial intelligence and the evolving landscape for institutional investors.  

Katie-Ann Wilson, Managing Director of OMFIF’s Digital Monetary Institute is joined by Peter Faykiss Director, Digitalization, Central Bank of Hungary, Imre Kocsis, Assistant Professor, Budapest University of Technology, Laszlo Gonczy Associate Professor, Budapest University of Technology and Chris Ostrowski, CEO and founder of SODA to explore what we mean by programmable money and how it could impact how we use money in society. They also discuss the BIS’s Project Rosalind and why it is important to CBDC development, real life use cases for CBDCS using smart contracts and the technical models used.

The International Monetary Fund's Ukraine team joins OMFIF to discuss the stabilisation of the Ukrainian economy over the past year. They assess the critical role played by the Fund's programme and foreign financing for Ukraine, as well as Ukraine's progress on combatting corruption and strengthening the domestic financial system. Speakers: Mark Sobel, US Chairman, OMFIF Natan Epstein, Deputy Mission Chief for Ukraine, IMF Gavin Gray, Mission Chief for Ukraine, IMF Sanaa Nadeem, Deputy Mission Chief for Ukraine, IMF

There has been a rise in the number of people needing humanitarian assistance over recent years, resulting in disaster response public funding having to tackle immediate and longer-term socio-economic challenges. Gareth Owen, humanitarian director of Save the Children UK and Simon Inglis, partner, grants & relief funds management at EY join OMFIF’s Digital Monetary Institute editor, Lewis McLellan, to discuss the importance of accountably for grant management and how new technology can improve delivery, efficiency, and oversight transparency to maximise the impact of grant funds.