Latest news with #BUSINESS
Barnama
7 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
IMF Forum Explores How Governments Can Better Navigate Rising Borrowing Costs, Refinancing Pressures
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- The 20th International Monetary Fund (IMF) Public Debt Management Forum explores and discusses how governments can better navigate the challenges of rising borrowing costs and debt refinancing pressures. The forum was jointly organised by the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the IMF on May 27-28. The Finance Ministry said in a statement that one key focus was improving the liquidity of government bond markets to ensure investors remain confident and engaged even during times of economic uncertainty. 'Participants also explored Islamic finance's growing role in sovereign borrowing strategies, offering new opportunities for countries seeking to diversify funding sources,' it said. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan highlighted in his keynote address the importance of global collaboration in shaping resilient debt strategies in the face of rising debt vulnerabilities and shifting investor expectations. 'It is increasingly clear that the future of debt sustainability cannot rely on national efforts alone. We must strengthen cross-border collaboration, deepen institutional partnerships, and foster the exchange of knowledge to build resilience and strengthen investor confidence,' he said. The two-day forum, themed 'Managing Public Debt Amid Evolving Capital Markets' has gathered around 200 senior government officials, public debt managers and financial market experts from a total of 37 emerging and advanced countries to engage in critical discussions shaping the future of sovereign debt management. This forum discussed emerging challenges and opportunities in sovereign financing risks, weathering the market volatility, Islamic finance, digitalisation in government bond markets and the role of primary dealers as well as market makers. Besides, IMF's financial counsellor and director of the monetary and capital markets department, Tobias Adrian discussed the risks to global financial stability and emphasised the importance of debt transparency.
Barnama
23-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
PM Anwar's Russia Trip Seen As Gateway To Central Asian Halal Market
BUSINESS Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (left) with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference following the conclusion of the delegation meeting held at the Kremlin, Moscow, on May 14. By Lucia Terey John KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent official visit to Russia is not only a strategic move to strengthen bilateral relations, but also a 'gateway' for Malaysia to explore the halal industry in the European and Central Asian regions, according to an analyst. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) senior lecturer Dr Norazlan Hadi Yaacob said the visit also reflected Malaysia's new diplomatic approach in engaging with countries that have significant trade potential and shared cultural values, instead of focusing solely on traditional major powers such as the United States. 'Many people don't realise that great Islamic scholars like Imam Bukhari hail from this region (Central Asia), which shares a similar Islamic intellectual tradition. These were major Islamic empires in the medieval era. So we're leveraging Malaysia's status as a respected Islamic country to reach out to them (Russia). 'I'm confident one of the benefits we will reap is access to the halal industry, which is worth billions of ringgit. So we need to look at it from that perspective, not from an ideological standpoint about who we support,' he said in a special programme aired on Bernama TV last night ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit. The 46th ASEAN Summit, themed Inclusivity and Sustainability, begins today with the senior officials' meeting, followed by the ministerial meeting on May 25 and the leaders' summit starting May 26. Taking into account Malaysia's role as the ASEAN 2025 Chair, Norazlan added that the visit underscores the government's consistent stance on maintaining an independent and non-aligned foreign policy, not tied to any particular power bloc. At the same time, Malaysia remains proactive in exploring strategic opportunities in the national and regional interests, said the Faculty of Human Sciences lecturer.
