Education seminars

Twenty-eight people from all over the world attended the forfaiting seminar in Prague on 2nd and 3rd September, ahead of the conference.

The course, which spanned two half-days, was an introduction to best practice in forfaiting and covered, among other things, risk assessment, how to carry out discount calculations, documentary issues and considerations of how to manage a portfolio of forfait assets.

Branko Brisceh of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, in London commented, “I found the seminar in Prague very clear and a very good, concise explanation about forfaiting and how it should work.” Redha Sadat of Arab Banking Corporation in Bahrain added, “Besides the conference itself, it was a good opportunity to discuss various market needs and challenges in today’s trade finance world.”

“From my point of view it was an ideal introduction for junior forfaiters [wishing] to participate in the international forfaiting market,” adds Radwa Salama from Egyptian Arab Land Bank in Cairo, “and to get to know practically how to deal with the international group of professionals in various organizations. This opens new channels of cooperation with current and future correspondents.” Larisa Rodionova of MDM Bank, Moscow who also attended the seminar, echoed these views.

To date ITFA seminars, the first of which was staged in 2001, have taken place in Bahrain, Beijing, Cannes, Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Tunis, Tripoli and Vienna. Others will follow in due course and will be advised to members via ITFA news alerts. If you are interested in attending one these courses or would like to organize one in your country or at your firm, kindly e-mail: info@itfa.org