Prospects across countries are dramatically uneven and deeply uncertain as the world looks to recover from the unprecedented coronavirus shock. Wealthy countries with ambitious vaccine rollouts and expansionary policies stand to recover more quickly while emerging market and developing economies may continue to struggle as fiscal space and vaccine access remain constrained. Alongside public health measures, countries around the world must address mounting sovereign debt, capitalize on green investment opportunities, and more to secure a balanced, sustainable recovery. How can the international community and the International Financial Institutions rise to the challenge and achieve a global recovery that lifts the prospects of all?
Preventing Global Debt Crises
Monday, Apr. 5 | 9:00 - 10:30 AM EDT
As a wave of disorderly defaults looms, a group of leading experts from the Bretton Woods Committee’s new Sovereign Debt Working Group will examine how to improve debt restructurings and chart a path for debt sustainability by incentivizing private sector participation, achieving debt transparency, and more.
Joaquim Levy, Director, World Resources Institute
Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Jose Viñals, Chairman, Standard Chartered
Mark Walker, Senior Managing Director and Head of Sovereign Advisory, Guggenheim Securities
William R. Rhodes, Co-Chair, Sovereign Debt Working Group and BWC Executive Committee (Moderator)
John Lipsky, Co-Chair, Sovereign Debt Working Group and BWC Executive Committee (Moderator)
Achieving an Equitable Global Recovery
Monday, Apr. 5 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
World Bank President David Malpass will join William R. Rhodes to discuss the road to recovery in developing countries, which saw an unprecedented spike in extreme poverty in 2020. These countries face deeply uncertain prospects and need continued support from the World Bank and the international community to access vaccines, address growing inequality, manage unsustainable debts, and achieve sustainable development goals. How can the World Bank best support developing countries so that they can recover and prosper?
David Malpass, President, World Bank Group
William R. Rhodes, President and CEO, William R. Rhodes Global Advisors and BWC Executive Committee (Moderator)
Seizing the New Bretton Woods Moment
Wednesday, Apr. 7 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EDT
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will join John Lipsky to discuss the global economic outlook and consider how the IFIs can meet this new "Bretton Woods moment" and secure an equitable, sustainable recovery. As the global economy faces an uphill climb on the road to recovery, how can the IMF best deploy available tools - such as a new SDR allocation and debt relief measures - to prevent a sharp divergence between developing and advanced economies? How can green investment and technology help rebuild the global economy?
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
John Lipsky, Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and BWC Executive Committee (Moderator)
Green Investment for Recovery
Friday, Apr. 9 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM EDT
In the context of dramatic economic disruption, this expert panel will explore how countries can accelerate their transition to a green economy while pursuing a balanced recovery. What investments must governments, international financial institutions, and the private sector make to drive progress on climate and sustainable development goals? How can investments in sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy complement Covid-19 recovery efforts and create new economic opportunities?
Afsaneh Beschloss, CEO, RockCreek Group
Thierry Déau, Chairman and CEO, Meridiam
Jérôme Haegeli, Group Chief Economist, Swiss Re and Co-Chair, Global Infrastructure Facility
Aniket Shah, Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor, Columbia University (Moderator)
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