Wednesday, 15 November 2023, 15:00–16:30 (UTC/GMT+1 or CET)

Languages: Simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish (Simultaneous interpretation – Frequently asked questions)

Over the years, a growing number of social security institutions, notably pension schemes, are raising their funding levels and thereby accumulating reserves for investment purposes. Conscious of the goal of ensuring safety and liquidity requirements, these schemes are subject to more strict regulation which may limit investment options across borders. This is made even more evident with growing concerns on the socio-economic utility of invested funds which may drive social security funds to developmental projects.

Traditionally, investing social funds has been dominated by participation in financial markets and the acquisition of financial market instruments which guarantee the liquidity requirements of social security schemes. However, institutions operating in countries with underdeveloped, ill-equipped, or saturated financial markets are most often subjected to an adverse selection of assets leading to higher risks exposure, lower yields, and potential liquidity crises.

In other instances, the accumulation of reserves beyond contingency requirements can provoke political interference with a potential risk of mismanagement which will jeopardise the long-term sustainability of social security schemes. To avert this and related risks, social security schemes are leveraging on globalisation alongside the growing connections across financial markets to diversify their investment portfolio across well-equipped financial markets with more secured and better performing instruments across the globe for improved outcomes at lower risks.

In light of the evolving trends of global diversification of investment portfolios, this webinar will present experiences and discuss approaches and related challenges.

Speakers

	Zaidoun Abuhassan, Senior Adviser, Pension Fund Investments, Social Security Corporation (SSC), Jordan
	Mohamed Ali Bensouda, Director General, Savings-Pensions Branch of the Deposit and Management Fund (CDG), Morocco
	Steven James, Managing Director, Strategic Portfolio Design, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Canada

This webinar will examine the following questions:

• What are the key determinants of global diversification of investment portfolios?
• What are the prerequisites for constructing and maintaining a properly diversified global portfolio?
• What are the appraisal strategies and measures to obtain consistent and sustainable results?
• What are the strategies and measures put in place to manage currency exchange risks, unintended biases, investment-related taxes, and cost?

Agenda

• Welcome by Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Secretary General, ISSA
• Technical introduction by the ISSA
• Case experience of SSC, Jordan.
• Case experience of Savings-Pensions Branch CDG, Morocco
• Case experience of CPPIB, Canada
• Q&A – Discussion
• Conclusions

Moderated by Paul Mondoa Ngomba, Technical Specialist in Social Security, ISSA

Practical information

The webinar is open to delegates of ISSA member organizations and invited institutions without registration fees.