Luxembourg’s Ministry of Finance and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) were co-hosts of the Government Borrowers Forum (GBF) this year, together with the World Bank Treasury, which holds the secretariat for the GBF this week.

The conference took place on 16-18 May 2017 at the ARBED building "19 Liberty" in Luxembourg, kindly made available by the Bank and the State Savings Bank (BCEE).

"I am very pleased that after 20 years, the Government Borrowers Forum is again held here in Luxembourg”, said Pierre Gramegna, Luxembourg’s Finance Minister. “We are grateful for the support we have received from the European Commission.”

The GBF is a forum for senior officials of countries issuing in international capital markets and treasurers of multilateral development banks. Each year, about 80 to 100 senior debt managers from about 40 countries awaits.

"For the last 35 years, this forum has been providing delegates with an opportunity to reflect on the big picture. This year we have the theme 'how disruptions are shaping the financial system of the future'. Arunma Oteh, Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank.

"We have been delighted to co-host the World Bank's Government Borrowers Forum for the first time this year. The forum offers an excellent opportunity to discuss some of the most pressing topics for government borrowers as the ESM, the largest issuer of euro-denominated Bonds in its peer group, "said Kalin Anev Janse, Secretary General of the ESM.

Speakers at the 2017 GBF were Pierre Gramegna, Yves Mersch, European Central Bank Executive Board member, Klaus Regling, ESM Managing Director, Arunma Oteh, and Kalin Anev Janse, amongst others.