Newsletters


FIRST LETTER (OF MANY MORE TO COME) FROM THE ESG FUNCTION, June 2021

Monday, May 17th, 2021

ESG, in other words Environmental, Social and Governance, needs no further introduction nowadays which is a remarkable development considering how the importance of this topic on the agenda has risen over the past decades from often fairly broad and vague CSR statements on companies’ websites and in the footnotes of annual reports to now a front of mind matter of great significance.

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WHERE TRADE MEETS MULTILATERALISM, June 2021

Tuesday, June 15th, 2021

For all the G7 bluster on reducing CO2 emissions and creating a green Belt and Road Initiative to rival China’s programme, there is little policy interest in how trade can, and should, be used as a policy lever to promote sustainabiity.

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MAPPING TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS TO TRADE ORIGINATORS’ PRIORITIES, Jun 2021

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

A high degree of specialisation is now proven to be the key ingredient of success for fintechs. Those who claim to have a grand vision and who expand too thinly engage on a slippery track. Focus is key in order to become the best at something really differentiating for incumbent banks, preferably at the right time so as to ensure a perfect-match with banks’ evolving priorities.

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ITFA NEW MEMBERS, Jun 2021

Thursday, June 17th, 2021

ITFA is pleased to welcome the following institutions to its growing family:

– African Development Bank
– Campion Willcocks Compliance LLP
– MonetaGo, Inc.
– Nimai Trade Fintech Pte.
– WAVE BL

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE – Sean Edwards, ITFA Chairman / Head of Legal and Special Adviser to The Global Trade Finance Department At SMBC, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

As I am sure you are aware we have recently announced that we are planning ITFA’s first physical event for 2021! The plan is to hold this event in London on the 12th August. Needless to say, we are still at the mercy of our dear friend Mr Covid.

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DOCUMENTARY CREDIT IS STILL ONE OF THE KEY TRADE FINANCE INSTRUMENTS, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

My first job in international banking was in a foreign exchange bureau. Soon I was appointed head of a unit working with various forms of cheques, including bank cheques, travel cheques (which were bought by international travellers in their banks in a currency of destinations), money orders, etc.

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ITFA STRUCTURED LETTERS OF CREDIT GUIDE, May 2021

Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

ITFA is delighted to announce that it has released an in-depth guide to Structured Letters of Credit. The guide can be found in the member area of the ITFA website.

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LATIN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS MUST CREATE A CULTURE OF REPORTING ESG IMPACT TO ACCESS GLOBAL GREEN BONDS AND FINANCE MARKETS – THE CASE OF BRAZIL, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

The movement of major investors and lenders to push companies, financial institutions and funds to measure and report in financial statements the risks and opportunities related to environment, social and governance (ESG) is arriving in Latin America as a condition to access the global green bonds and finance markets.

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INSIDER THOUGHTS: THE GREENSILL STORY AND ITS IMPACT ON SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

Singapore, 5 April: The most severe stress case you can impose on any counterparty is their insolvency. So imagine your client has folded, there is no buyer for its business and all its staff has been dismissed. Apocalyptic?

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IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT TRADE FINANCE, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

A couple of years ago, I made a pitch to a group of investors. During the pitch I mentioned the problem I was trying to solve in trade finance was ultimately quite dull. The investors were not sold on the idea. To them, Fintech should be exciting, dynamic and fast moving.

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ITFA NEW MEMBERS, May 2021

Monday, May 10th, 2021

ITFA is pleased to welcome the following institutions to its growing family:

– CIBC
– Hill Dickinson LLP
– Iccrea Banca Spa

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE – Sean Edwards, ITFA Chairman / Head of Legal and Special Adviser to The Global Trade Finance Department At SMBC, Apr 2021

Tuesday, April 13th, 2021

Tick tock!.Tick tock!……as the UK Government further eased the country’s lockdown, the Prime Minister now hopes to be able to lift the majority of rules by 21 June.

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DIGITAL TRENDS IN TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST, Apr 2021

Monday, April 12th, 2021

The ITFA Middle East regional committee gathered in February for a webinar concentrating on the recent – and upcoming – developments in digital trade solutions. For this purpose, Emirates NBD invited and joined a panel of experts representing DEWA, Microsoft, Traxpay and SMBC.

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EMERGING LEADERS COMMITTEE GROWS TEAM TO REFLECT RISING SCALE OF ACTIVITIES, Apr 2021

Monday, April 12th, 2021

We are delighted to announce that the ITFA Emerging Leaders Committee has grown its membership to reflect the rising scale of activities it has been carrying out in 2020 and 2021.

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BASEL FRAMEWORK COMMENTARY – INSIGHTS ON GREENSILL, Apr 2021

Monday, April 12th, 2021

We are aware of recent concerns raised about the payables finance market and related-insurance cover in respect of the bankruptcy of Greensill. Greensill’s activities are not representative of the market.

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HOW FINTECHS CAN HELP TRADE FINANCE WHEELS SPIN MORE SMOOTHLY, Apr 2021

Monday, April 12th, 2021

In Latin America and elsewhere, fintechs are typically associated with consumer services offered directly or through an incumbent player such as a bank – but they are also quietly supporting institutions in back-office areas.

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ITFA NEW MEMBERS, Apr 2021

Monday, April 12th, 2021

ITFA is pleased to welcome the following institutions to its growing family:

– Cleareye.ai INC
– FQX AG
– KomGo SA
– Talbot US (aka Validus Specialty Underwriting Services, Inc.)

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE – Sean Edwards, ITFA Chairman / Head of Legal and Special Adviser to The Global Trade Finance Department At SMBC, Mar 2021

Wednesday, March 10th, 2021

Cheers and bottoms-up to all, as we finally seem to be approaching the end of this long journey out of lockdown.

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WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? A TRADE FINANCIER!, Mar 2021

Wednesday, March 10th, 2021

How many times have you heard a child or a teenager, or even someone in their early twenties say that their greatest aspiration is to become a trade financier? Never? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

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THE TEXEL GROUP | HOW HAS THE NPI MARKET CHANGED IN 2020?, Mar 2021

Wednesday, March 10th, 2021

In December 2020 ITFA member The Texel Group, a Non Payment Insurance (NPI) broker, shared the results of their NPI Insurer COVID-19 survey which was coordinated between their London, Singapore, New York and Brussels offices and included responses from 67 underwriting teams across the respective underwriting hubs.

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