Aim and function

On 29 January 2019 Agreement was renewed between the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Iceland on Treasury debt management.  The purpose of the Agreement is to promote more economical, efficient and effective debt administration for the Treasury, based on the Ministry of Finance’s debt strategy.  In the Agreement the tasks that the Central Bank carries out on behalf of the Ministry are clearly defined in connection with domestic and foreign borrowing, guarantees and relending.

Agreement (pdf) 

The Medium Term Debt Management Strategy 2012-2015 sets forth the Government‘s plans for debt financing plans for the specified period. It provides a description of the composition of the debt portfolio, inherent risk factors and contingent liabilities. The institutional structure regarding debt management is also described.
The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the central government‘s debt management, sets the strategy and makes decisions regarding debt issues. A special section within the Central Bank of Iceland, Government Debt Unit, is responsible for the implementation of the Treasury‘s debt management policies.

GDM Strategy.pdf
Press release.pdf

As is stated in the 25 March press release from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the capital account liberalisation process aims to minimise the negative impact on the bond market. In view of this, Government Debt Management (GDM) has made an agreement with the primary dealers that GDM will keep a close watch on bond market developments and will support the market with the purchase and/or sale of Treasury bonds on Monday 28 March, if deemed necessary. In addition, GDM and primary dealers have made an agreement where parties that purchase foreign currency in upcoming Central Bank of Iceland auctions can sell the Treasury their Treasury bills and bonds maturing before year-end 2013 so as to finance the purchases.
The purpose of this is to counteract the volatility and uncertainty that may develop in the market.

Further information can be obtained from Ingvar H. Ragnarsson at the Ministry of Finance, at tel +354 545 9200, and from Björgvin Sighvatsson at Government Debt Management, at tel +354 569 9633.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ press release concerning the removal of the capital controls, issued on 25 March 2011, states, inter alia, that owners of foreign currency will have the option of purchasing Icelandic krónur in Central Bank auctions, provided that they invest the krónur in bonds issued by the Treasury of Iceland.

Press release (pdf)

The Treasury's debt management strategy reflects the government's plans for financing its activities during this period. It provides a breakdown of the Treasury's current debt structure and the main risk factors in its debt management, as well as the Treasury's large exposures. Arrangements for implementing financing policy are also described. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the state's debt management, formulates its financing policy and makes decisions on issuing debt securities. The Government Debt Unit, a special section within the Central Bank, handles the implementation of the strategy under an agreement with the Treasury. This is the first instance of such specific and detailed presentation of the government's debt management strategy.

GDM Strategy.pdf