Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

It is with great pride that the ITFA Board announces the smooth running of its first virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

We see that the regional economic outlook is highly uncertain due to the pandemic and related disruptions as well as lower oil price.

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

Collaboration, Innovation, Standardisation and Education were the keywords that our panellists representing HSBC, Reed Smith and Santander Asset Management highlighted during our recent TFD Initiative webinar.

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

On November 17th, 2020, the ITFA Middle East Regional Committee, currently chaired by Mz. Naura Hussain, SRM, Financial Institutions International at UBL Dubai, organized in collaboration with Global Trade Review ‘GTR’, the 3rd trade finance roundtable, hosted virtually out of Dubai.

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

Trade Finance Global (TFG) and World Trade Organization (WTO) have today launched their updated Periodic Table of DLT Projects in Trade, at the Hong Kong Fintech Festival.

Thursday, November 12th, 2020

Hope is one of the great theological virtues and a fresh supply is desperately needed with the year we’ve had. Have we found some?

Friday, November 13th, 2020

This year, an impressive 19 projects were submitted to the ITFA Emerging Leaders Competition, with 5 projects selected as finalists, as well as a special mention project from a senior member.

Thursday, November 12th, 2020

On May 18, 2020, the ITFA Middle East Regional Committee, currently chaired by Mr Semih Ozkan, Director, Structured Trade Finance Head, Middle East, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, organized the second trade finance distribution forum in the region.

Thursday, November 12th, 2020

Even before Covid-19, the Trade Finance Gap in Emerging Markets was a hot topic, with a lot of Multilaterals, Governments, DFIs and the larger Global Trade community expressing great concern and a belief that if this Gap could be closed it would be hugely beneficial in developing economies.

Thursday, November 12th, 2020

Predominant financial institutions have taken the lead on the TFD Initiative and recently outlined how digital trends, new ecosystems and regulations are impacting trade distribution practices.

Thursday, November 12th, 2020

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

– Coral Energy Group
– DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale
– Oldenburgische Landesbank AG

Monday, October 19th, 2020

It has been a long time since we mentioned Brexit. With all the uncertainty COVID-19 brought about, it is easy to forget about other important issues. But 1st January 2021, the day when the UK will be treated as a non-EU country, is just around the corner.

Tuesday, October 20th, 2020

Trade finance has an undeniable role to play in the development of a more sustainable world. The incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations in trade finance brings widespread benefits to the goods’ and services’ supply chains.

Monday, October 19th, 2020

How can trade banks digitise original documents such as bank guarantees and bills of exchange? How can the use of paper originals be avoided to widen the financing window and to avoid delivery via postal services? How can digital originals be exchanged through banks’ own portals? What are the dDOC specifications? Is DLT finally helping trade banks?

Monday, October 19th, 2020

There are two people left standing for what is either the best, or the worst, job in world trade at the moment – Director General of the WTO: Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee. Whoever wins has a monumental task ahead of them – the previous Director, Roberto Azevedo quit earlier than expected.

Monday, October 19th, 2020

The challenges facing countless small businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic do not need to be reiterated. Everyone is aware of the challenges posed by the lockdown measures, especially as governments brace for the second wave, and the toll this has had.

Monday, October 19th, 2020

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

–  ABB
– Syndicate 3902 Ark Syndicate
Management Ltd
– Trade Ledger

Friday, September 11th, 2020

I write this opening message with a heavy heart, as under normal circumstances I would be opening this month’s newsletter with one of my favourite topics…our Annual Conference!

Friday, September 11th, 2020

Who could have imagined a few months back the widespread and rampant disruption that Covid-19 would cause. The pace at which the pandemic has spread and the unprecedented lock downs it has caused with almost 60% of mankind now at home, has questioned literally all facets of our work life that were literally a given, less than a few weeks back.

Friday, September 11th, 2020

Banks and insurers say the private credit insurance market, which plays an important role in global trade, is contracting.