Being a country’s finance minister may appear to be something of a poisoned chalice in the current economic environment, but there are still plenty of politicans doing sterling work in steering their countries through the aftermath of the global crisis. The Banker salutes the finest of these.

Being a country’s finance minister may appear to be something of a poisoned chalice in the current economic environment, but there are still plenty of politicans doing sterling work in steering their countries through the aftermath of the global crisis. The Banker salutes the finest of these.

The world economy may be recovering from the global financial crisis, but finance ministers still face enormous challenges in guiding their countries towards sustainable growth and prosperity.

Before 2008, economic policy paralysis had largely prevailed in Côte d'Ivoire since an attempted coup and civil war in 2002. A default on commercial debt (mostly Brady bonds) in 2000 had not been cured, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme signed in 2002 had lapsed in 2005 without being replaced, and the country was running arrears to the Paris Club of bilateral creditor governments.

Strong nerves and creative strategies have characterised the best-performing finance ministers over the past 12 months. Here The Banker recognises those whose will and skill have proved outstanding at tackling the immediate effects of the slump while positioning their countries for future growth.