Graduate School of Public Policy

Public Talk “The Global Dynamics and the Changing Role of Sovereign Wealth Funds” by professor Mukul Asher (the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy) that took place on February 19 at GSPP focused on how the confluence of various global factors, including low commodity and resource prices underline the need for SWFs (Sovereign welfare funds) to rethink their role and management.

The relevance of the above to Kazakhstan became quite evident in the question-answer period.

The key messages emerging from the lecture were for SWFs to focus more strategically in improving performance of entreprises in their portfolio; and in improving communication with domestic and other stakeholders.

The lecture also brought about the vital role of good public financial management which balance medium term expenditures with flows of receipts.