Standard Chartered at IMF

16 October, Thursday

Sovereign Investor Roundtables

For the 8th consecutive year, Standard Chartered will again host its flagship Sovereign Investor Roundtables alongside the 2025 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings.

This bespoke platform brings together sovereign issuer policy makers and senior portfolio managers from leading global investors, with a focus on emerging market sovereign credits. The sessions offer sovereign borrowers the opportunity to share their economic outlook, fiscal priorities, and reform agendas while engaging directly with top-tier investors.

For investors, the roundtables provide a unique platform to access global capital, exchange perspectives, and explore bilateral opportunities with policy makers and market leaders. With one-hour sessions centred on ministerial dialogues, Q&A-driven roundtable discussions, and peer-to-peer networking, participants gain valuable insights while fostering stronger connections between sovereign issuers and the international investment community.

17 October, Friday

Breakfast conversation

The 2025 Breakfast Conversation will focus on macroeconomic shocks, policy responses, and how governments, markets, and financial institutions can recalibrate for future progress. The discussion will be moderated by Roberto Hoornweg, Co-head of Corporate & Investment Banking and CEO for Europe, Americas, Middle East and Africa, Standard Chartered.

The session will feature Dr. Nouriel Roubini, Chairman and CEO of Roubini Macro Associates, a global macroeconomic consultancy based in New York. He is also Professor Emeritus of Economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Widely recognised for his analysis of international economics and global financial risks, Dr. Roubini previously served as Senior Economist for international affairs at the White House Council of Economic Advisers and has consulted for the IMF, World Bank, and numerous central banks.

24 October, Thursday

Sovereign Investor Forum

For the 7th consecutive year, the Standard Chartered Sovereign-Investor Forum brings together Sovereign issuers with major credit investors in a series of presentations from policy decision makers.

Investors will have the opportunity to engage directly with Sovereign issuers on the latest economic developments in their respective countries.

This year we are privileged to have Sovereigns from:

• Republic of Türkiye
• Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• The Kingdom of Bahrain
• Republic of Angola
• Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Republic of Uzbekistan
• Republic of the Philippines
• Republic of Senegal
• Arab Republic of Egypt

25 October, Friday

Future of Multilateralism in an Evolving International Order

The existing international order is in a state of flux. Geopolitical ties are rising in importance compared to economic relationships as the world shifts to a multidimensional model of globalisation. This is causing friction in the global trade system and technology adoption, and tensions in ongoing multilateral efforts to address global issues, such as climate change, pandemic preparedness and migration.

Our speaker this year is Henry Gao – author of the forthcoming book “Between Market Economy and State Capitalism: China’s State-Owned Enterprises and the World Trading System”. A renowned expert on international trade, particularly regarding China and the WTO, Henry Gao has been an advisor on trade issues for many national governments as well as the WTO, UN, World Bank, ADB, APEC, ASEAN, EU and the World Economic Forum. Currently working on digital trade, WTO and China, and WTO reform, his most recent paper analysed China’s changing perspectives on the WTO, which was quoted as an “invaluable” paper by the Financial Times in its feature article on China’s 20th anniversary in the WTO.