The First Public Finance Forum Discusses Public Debt Management
As countries strive to enhance their financial strategies, the First Public Finance Forum, focused on addressing public debt, was held in June 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. This distinguished event was organized by the Sharjah Award for Public Finance in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Administrative Development and the Government of Sharjah. The forum’s theme was “Managing Public Debt in a Changing World – Sustainable Strategies to Face Global Economic Challenges.” The significance of this forum lies in its role as a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences on public debt management, contributing to the development of financial policies in participating countries.
Forum Goals and Shared Vision
The forum aimed to foster dialogue among countries regarding best practices in public debt management, enabling them to tackle contemporary financial challenges. A group of experts and officials participated to discuss the latest trends in this field. The event featured presentations of successful government stories in public debt management, highlighting the importance of cooperation among countries in developing effective strategies to address financial difficulties.
Notable attendees included His Excellency Waleed Ibrahim Al-Sayegh, Director General of the Central Finance Department in Sharjah and Member of the Award’s Board of Trustees, and His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Award. There was also extensive participation from ministers and government officials, as well as public finance specialists from Arab countries and beyond.
Enhancing Arab Cooperation in Public Debt Management
In his opening speech, His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi emphasized the importance of this forum as an ideal platform for sharing experiences and knowledge among Arab countries. He stressed that showcasing successful stories in public debt management serves as evidence of the countries’ commitment to improving their financial performance and responding to increasing economic challenges.
Al Qasimi also noted that the Sharjah Award represents an incentive for government entities to achieve the highest standards of excellence in public finance. In this context, he called on everyone to innovate and adopt new methods to enhance public debt management and promote transparency and efficiency.
Future Trends and Sustainable Cooperation
Dr. Nasser Al-Hatlani Al-Qahtani remarked on the importance of the forum amidst global economic challenges. The Sharjah Award for Public Finance represents a fruitful partnership aimed at improving government financial performance and enhancing economic sustainability.
He also highlighted the role of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development in organizing awards and training programs, contributing to motivating countries toward greater excellence in public financial management. The forum resulted in a set of recommendations that will support the future of public debt management and achieve developmental goals.
After intensive sessions, effective strategies for dealing with public debt were discussed, with participants addressing topics related to geopolitical transformations and the economic crisis affecting countries, proposing practical solutions aimed at improving public debt management.
The Sharjah Award for Public Finance serves as a call to adopt best practices and enhance cooperation, reflecting the urgent need to achieve a sustainable financial future that supports national and regional development goals. This forum represents a new beginning for collaboration in the field of public finance and reaffirms the commitment of countries to advance financial performance and deliver innovative solutions.