In the first of two parts in a special mini-series on the European retail government bond market, Burhan Khadbai, head of content at OMFIF’s Sovereign Debt Institute, speaks to senior officials at the Belgian and Portuguese debt management offices about their record-breaking retail bond programmes this year. Rui Amaral, board member, Portugal’s debt management office (IGCP) and Maric Post, director of treasury and capital markets at the Belgian debt agency, join OMFIF to cover how both DMOs have been shifting more funding to retail investors. The discussion also touches on Belgium’s landmark €22bn transaction in September as well as whether retail demand is structural or opportunistic.