Global debtors and creditors agree to speed up debt restructuring

Washington — Global creditors, debtor nations and international financial institutions on Wednesday agreed to improve data-sharing, set clearer timetables and take other steps aimed at jump-starting debt restructuring processes.

The World Bank, IMF and India, current president of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, issued a joint statement after the first full-fledged meeting of the new Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, held during the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington.

“The discussion focused on the actions that can be taken now to accelerate debt restructuring processes and make them more efficient, including under the G20 Common Framework,” the statement said.

The meeting came amid ongoing delays in finalising debt treatment agreements for Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia under the G20 Common Framework, though IMF strategy chief Ceyla Pazarbasioglu on Wednesday said she hoped for “good news” on Zambia’s case next week.

US officials and others blame the delays largely on foot-dragging by China, now the world’s largest bilateral creditor, and reluctance by private sector creditors to join in.

Ghana, Zambia and Ethiopia are at various stages of the process, but debt experts say China’s agreement to provide financing assurances for Sri Lanka — a middle income country that was not eligible under the G20 framework — could provide fresh momentum for moving forward on those separate cases.

Participants agreed on the importance to urgently improve information sharing on macroeconomic projections and debt sustainability assessments in debt treatment cases, the statement said.

It said the IMF and World Bank would rapidly issue staff guidance on data-sharing at each stage of the restructuring process, resolving a frustration voiced by China and other creditors about lack of sufficient information.

Participants also discussed the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in debt restructuring processes through their provision of “net positive flows” of concessional finance, and welcomed the implicit debt relief provided by the World Bank’s International Development Association arm through low interest or zero-interest loans and grants.

Participants agreed to organise a workshop in coming weeks on how to assess and enforce comparability of treatment of creditors, and said they would work on principles regarding cut-off dates, formal debt service suspension at the beginning of the process, treatment of arrears, and perimeter of debt to be restructured, including with regards to domestic debt.

“This work will also help in clarifying potential timetables to accelerate debt restructurings,” the statement said.

It said the IMF, World Bank and the G20 presidency will continue to work closely together and with other partners to further support the international response to current debt challenges.

Reuters