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FEATURE STORY June 30, 2021

RAMP Voices: Abdiel Santiago, Panama Savings Fund

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Meet: Abdiel A. Santiago, Panama Savings Fund

  • RAMP Voices is a series by the World Bank Treasury Reserve Advisory & Management Partnership (RAMP) that highlights members for their contributions to the Partnership.
  • Mr. Abdiel Santiago is the Secretariat of the Panama Savings Fund, where his role includes the responsibilities of both a chief executive officer and chief investment officer.
  • Through his role, he most enjoys leading the Fund through its many challenges and achieving reasonable financial results. He previously worked in global energy investment research, primarily equities.

What are the top three reasons your institution joined RAMP?

The Fund joined RAMP to (1) catalyze our Board’s understanding of long-term investing, (2) accelerate our team’s investment management skillset, and (3) establish a strong market-based foundation and validation of the Fund.

What do you appreciate most about RAMP?

I appreciate the sense that we have someone “in our corner” when we face challenges in our local market.

What is one lesson you have learned from another RAMP member institution?

After working with fellow RAMP members, I do not underestimate the power of documenting financial and investment decisions.

What's your favorite RAMP resource?

The dynamic asset allocation model.

What's your favorite workshop?

The Annual Executive Forum for Policymakers and Senior Officials.

"The Fund joined RAMP to catalyze our Board’s understanding of long-term investing, accelerate our team’s investment management skillset, and establish a strong market-based foundation and validation of the Fund."
Abdiel A. Santiago
Secretariat, Panama Savings Fund
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The purpose of the Panama Savings Fund is to establish long-term savings mechanisms for the Panamanian State through prudent investment strategies, with the objective of creating coverage in cases of emergency due to natural disasters or economic slowdown and for the benefit of future generations of Panamanians.

Describe one of the most memorable moments working with RAMP.

I have many memories, but I most remember meeting and connecting with other global financial leaders during the World Bank’s Annual and Spring Meetings.

Name the top three things with which RAMP has helped you, your team, or your institution.

It’s difficult to pick just three, but my first thought is the World Bank Treasury, through RAMP, provided a private equity teach-in, which ultimately allowed us to execute our first-ever private equity investment program.

RAMP: The Reserve Advisory & Management Partnership

RAMP is a program developed within the World Bank Treasury that builds human capital, delivers asset management services, and convenes a network of practitioners—all in one.

What do you look forward to next in your work with RAMP?

We look forward to having our Board re-engage with RAMP to further its strategic investment thinking.

What’s the next product or service RAMP should offer?

We want to coordinate a short-term shadowing, such as one month, of team members at other RAMP member institutions to learn best practices.

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