Potomac Group LLC

Absolutely remarkable week of global engagement, collaboration, inspiration - and FLAGS! ??? From the hallowed halls of the United Nations General Assembly to the vibrant atmosphere of the Spring Meetings 2024 hosted by the the International Monetary Fund and The World Bank, and culminating in the cultural richness of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - it's been an extraordinary journey of learning, dialogue, and inspiration. The highlight of my week was undoubtedly the honor of hosting a fireside chat on debt sustainability at the United Nations General Assembly . To share insights amidst speeches by influential figures such as the Secretary-General António Guterres, Prime Minister of #Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, and Prime Minister of #Uganda Robinah Nabbanja was truly humbling. Throughout these discussions, a central theme emerged - the urgent need to mobilize additional capital into social and environmental priorities, especially in low- and middle-income countries facing debt vulnerabilities. It's evident that innovative solutions and collaborative efforts are essential in addressing these complex challenges and advancing sustainable development on a global scale. As we reflect on the week's events, let's carry forward the spirit of dialogue, empathy, and action. Together, we can make meaningful strides towards a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future for all. (And for added inspiration, please listen to the full "Also Sprach Zarathustra" beyond the first notes heard in 2001: A Space Odyssey and #Barbie!) #UNGA #IMF #WorldBank #SpringMeetings #GlobalEngagement #SustainableDevelopment #Collaboration #Inspiration #KennedyCenter ?? ?? ?? ?

?? Honored to be a part of the United Nations Sustainability Week kickoff in New York! ?? It was an incredible privilege to be invited to the floor of the General Assembly for the High Level Thematic Debate on Debt Sustainability and Socio-Economic Equality for All and to host the fireside chat, "People Pay the Price" with Jason Rosario Braganza of African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and Jayati Ghosh of University of Massachusetts Amherst, diving deep into the pressing issues of sustainability and development. Throughout the day, I had the remarkable opportunity to immerse myself in the heart of the action on the floor of the General Assembly. Listening to world leaders including the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres , President the General Assembly for the 78th Session Dennis Francis , President of the Economic and Social Council Paula Narvaez, Administrator of UNDP Achim Steiner, alongside esteemed country representatives, engage in critical discussions on debt sustainability was both humbling and inspiring. The passion for creating positive change was palpable. Events like these remind us of the collective responsibility we hold in advancing sustainable development goals and shaping a brighter future for generations to come. Let's continue to harness the power of collaboration and innovation to drive meaningful impact worldwide. #UnitedNations #SustainabilityWeek #GlobalGoals #Collaboration #Impact #SDGs ???#UNGASustainabilityWeek #ChooseSustainability #SDGs #Development #Sustainability #Debt #DebtSustainability #SovereignDebt #GreenFinance #GreenEconomy #SustainableDevelopment

I am thrilled to have delivered the opening speech and the closing remarks of a two-day-workshop on debt optimisation organized by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and UNCTAD and attended by senior government officials of Ministries of Finance and Central Banks in Member States (Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia) and senior debt specialists, on 19-20 December 2023 in Muscat (Oman). The issues debated included: - global and regional challenges and prospects of sustainable debt solutions; - debt and fiscal challenges in the Arab region: exploring new frontiers of debt optimization to enhance fiscal space; - debt data management practices and debt data quality in the Arab region; - understanding debt sustainability analysis: recent proposals of reform of DSA framework; - UN DESA - UN ESCWA collaboration on debt modeling; - toward developing sustainable debt financing strategy: structuring debt innovative debt instruments and preparedness requirements; - regional initiatives on innovative debt solutions and enhancing fiscal space: Climate/SDGs Debt Swaps, Sustainable Debt Coalition; and - lessons learnt, experience sharing, and capacity needs in developing sustainable debt financing frameworks. The discussions were very high level, very interactive, and very professional, from the Member States and from the eminent experts participating in this forum. This the starting point of an Arab Debt Group. Eminent experts attending the forum included Jean-Paul Adam, @Kathrin Berensmann, Jill Dauchy, @Ibrahim El Bedewi, Ishac Diwan, Ulrich Volz, Ali Awdeh, Quentin Comet, Hadrien Davier, @Moez Labidi, Arend Kulenkampff, Francesca Ricciardone, Jamal Saghir, and Bhanumurthy N R UN colleagues included: Niranjan Sarangi, Roula Katergi, Ahmed Al-Awah, Namsuk Kim, Jan Gaska, PhD, and Malak El Baba. They did an excellent job and without them the workshop would not be such a remarkable success. The Representative of UNICEF in Muscat (Oman) and one colleague from his office attended the whole event. Many thanks to them for their support and participation. Many thanks to the attendees from the Member States and to the eminent experts for their contributions, presentations, and interactions. Many thanks to the officials in Oman Ministry of Finance (led by Ms. Aseel Hassan, Head of DMO) for their great support, their warm welcome, their excellent collaboration, and their incredible engagement.