In the wake of the extension of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), as well as recent thoughtful proposals for reforming the international sovereign debt architecture, the IIF offers these private sector perspectives that build on our September 22 letter to the G20.

We remain strongly supportive of the intent behind the DSSI. However, we also recognize that the underlying premise may have changed—the issues in some countries are no longer temporary liquidity problems, but rather more fundamental solvency concerns. This letter sets out three key points which we believe are crucial.

Following discussions during the Paris Forum/G20 event on July 8, we are pleased to provide the following progress update on private sector engagement with respect to the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). 

In response to the request for a waiver from private lenders stating that a request from sovereign borrowers for forbearance from official creditors would not constitute an event of default, we are very pleased to published this “G20 DSSI Template Waiver Letter Agreement.” 

Informed by our working group discussions, this letter is meant to frame the accompanying Terms of Reference for private sector consideration of borrower requests within the DSSI.

The Terms of Reference are a toolkit for DSSI-eligible sovereign borrowers that request forbearance from their private creditors. This new framework offers a flexible template for in-scope borrowers and their private creditors to advance conversations and enable voluntary debt service suspension, on terms in line with official bilateral creditors.

In response to the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) and calls in the IMFC, Development Committee and Paris Club communiqués for private sector participation, this letter provides an update on IIF activities, shares views from the international financial community, and outlines thoughts on a potential approach to voluntary private sector participation in the DSSI.

On behalf of the IIF membership—over 450 global firms across the financial services industry—President and CEO Tim Adams expresses our grave concern about the threat to debt sustainability posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.