CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE – Sean Edwards, ITFA Chairman, May 2025

Dear Members and Friends,

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. 

May was a whirlwind of activity for ITFA, with impactful events taking place across multiple regions. From vibrant discussions to valuable networking opportunities, the buzz from attendees is still resonating! Each event added a unique dimension to our ongoing global dialogue on trade finance.

The month began on a strong note with three simultaneous events on 8 May: a focused webinar introducing the new ITFA Short Term SWIFT FI Trade Loan template; a well-attended ITFA German Regional Committee (GRC) Workshop in Frankfurt; and an engaging Global Economic Outlook Briefing hosted by the ITFA Americas Regional Committee in Toronto.

On 13 May, London played host to the ITFA/FCI Conference in collaboration with the EBRD Trade Facilitation Programme, drawing attention to the evolving landscape of trade finance and the critical role of innovation. The momentum continued on 14 May, with three noteworthy events: in New York, the ITFA Emerging Leaders Committee hosted a Lunch & Learn session centred on Trade Finance Securitization; in Dubai, the ITFA Middle East Regional Committee (MERC) held a regional event focused on education and professional development; and back in London, the Emerging Leaders organized an evening of networking, fostering new connections among younger professionals.

On 15 May, ITFA & HC Commodities event brought together market participants in London for an insightful discussion capped by a live podcast recording—another example of ITFA’s commitment to content-driven engagement. The following day, 16 May, the new Latin America Regional Committee (LARC) hosted a vibrant networking cocktail in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, further strengthening ITFA’s footprint in the region.

The month continued with an Americas event in Los Angeles on 21 May, focusing on challenges and trends in the Supply Chain Finance space. On 22 May, Zurich was the venue for the 46th VEFI Annual General Meeting, a longstanding tradition for the forfaiting community that continues to thrive under the ITFA umbrella. Finally, the month concluded in Singapore on 29 May with a timely event hosted by the South-East Asia Regional Committee (SEARC), examining the impact of tariffs on ASEAN trade and regional economic resilience.

These diverse events highlight ITFA’s ongoing commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue, regional collaboration, and professional development across our global network.

I encourage you to visit our ITFA Events 2025 page to explore recent highlights and see what’s coming up in June.

As you will see, we have an exciting lineup of events ahead. June kicks off with one of ITFA’s flagship gatherings, the ITFA Americas 28th Annual Conference, taking place from 4 to 6 June 2025 in Miami. Later in the month, on 24 June, we will host our virtual 2025 ITFA Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Ahead of the AGM, members are invited to review the agenda, the minutes from the 2024 AGM, and the audited financial statements for 2024.

Naturally, I have saved the best for last, rest assured, I have not forgotten our much-anticipated ITFA 51st Annual Conference, Singapore, now just 4 months away!  This landmark event will be a truly special celebration of our shared journey together, and we expect a strong turnout, with registrations already coming in quickly. I strongly encourage you to register asap to secure your place and book your accommodation at the main hotel. Early bird rates expire on May 31st! Another valid reason to hurry up and register! More information along with a detailed programme of the Conference can be found here.

I would like to once again extend our appreciation to this year’s sponsors. If you or your organisation are interested in sponsoring our event, please click here for more information or contact us via email at info@itfa.org.

In this month’s newsletter, we highlight several thought-provoking contributions from across the trade finance landscape. We begin with a detailed overview of the newly published ITFA Short Term SWIFT FI Trade Loan Template, explored in our latest webinar and summarised by Rebecca Spong, offering insights into its development, structure, and practical application. Rebecca also brings us a timely article on HMRC’s plans to drive the adoption of e-invoicing in the UK, and how ITFA is engaging in discussions to support the initiative. We are also pleased to feature an editorial by Sinan Ozcan of DP World Trade Finance, who shares his perspective on how the industry is evolving to collateralise trade flows more directly in response to long-standing inefficiencies. Ezequiel Djeredjian from Complidata then sheds light on a less discussed yet pressing issue: the growing expertise gap in global trade finance operations, which threatens the sector’s resilience. And for our final article, Lluis Dalmau of Allianz Trade Group explores how the Gulf is emerging as a vital trade and re-export hub amidst shifting global alliances, increasing US and Chinese investment activity, and ambitious regional infrastructure strategies. We invite you to delve into these insightful contributions that reflect the evolution and challenges shaping global trade finance today.  Finally, do not miss our “Voices from our Regions” section, where you can read and follow up on the ITFA Americas Event – Trade as an Investible Asset Class, held in New York on April 15, the ITFA German Regional Committee Workshop Event held in Zurich on May 8 and the ITFA Emerging Leaders Networking Event held in London on May 14.

Lastly, we extend a warm welcome to the newest additions to our ever-growing association – Cartan Trade, Commodore Global Services Ltd, Credit Eureka and Raistone

I encourage you to take the time to read through this newsletter, keeping an eye out for exciting announcements, upcoming events, and opportunities for involvement. As always, your feedback and suggestions are invaluable to us.  Let us continue shaping the future of our organisation together.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn for real-time updates on upcoming events.

Before I leave, one small favour: Dalia Kay, a stalwart of our market, is researching ethical leadership and misconduct in trade finance and is running a short survey aimed at trade finance bankers. Please take a few minutes to reply; you can access it here:👉 https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8wgH8Jluwu5ql9Q and you can also find it under the OTHER NEWS section of the newsletter.

Warmest regards

Sean Edwards