TI’s Public Debt Confidentiality report exposes how secrecy clauses in Govt loan contracts, used to conceal critical information, undermine transparency, accountability, and public oversight

The paper debunks common justifications for secrecy, showing that national security, commercial sensitivity, or better loan terms rarely require hiding debt information. Confidentiality increases corruption risks, raises borrowing costs, and reduces access to finance, ultimately harming public services. TI calls for legal and institutional reforms requiring proactive disclosure by both borrower and lender countries, stronger oversight, and the creation of a global sovereign debt registry, arguing that full transparency is essential for sustainable…