Santiago Principles

The Santiago Principles or formally the Sovereign Wealth Funds: Generally Accepted Principles and Practices (GAPP) are designed as a common global set of 24 voluntary guidelines that assign best practices for the operations of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs). They are a consequence of the concern of investors and regulators to establish management principles addressing the inadequate transparency, independence, and governance in the industry. They are guidelines to be followed by sovereign wealth fund management to maintain a stable global financial system, proper controls around risk, regulation and a sound governance structure.

As of 2016 30 funds have formally signed up to the Principles and joined the IFSWF representing collectively 80% of assets managed by sovereign funds globally or US$5.5 trillion.

The principles are maintained and promoted by the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) and whose membership have to either have implemented or aspire to implement the principles.

History

In 2008, there was growing concern by investors and regulators about SWFs, partially about their visibility, accountability, and governance structure. To address these concerns, a joint effort between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the "International Working Group of Sovereign Wealth Funds" (IWG-SWF) which represented the coming together of 14 principle funds including some of the largest, such as GIC Private Limited and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The IWG-SWF then drafted the 24 Santiago Principles, to set out common international standards regarding transparency, independence, and governance which SWFs might follow. These were made public after being presented to the IMF International Monetary Financial Committee on 11 October 2008.

The working group was then replaced by a permanent body on the 6 April 2009, the "International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds" to maintain and promote the new standards going forward and encourage other sovereign wealth fund to sign up.