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

Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the September issue of our newsletter.

It gives me great pleasure to open this month’s newsletter by looking back at what has been the highlight of our year so far: the 51st ITFA Annual Conference, held on 4th September in Singapore. With its role as one of the world’s foremost trading hubs, Singapore provided the perfect setting for over 350 members and partners hailing from 35 different countries. The atmosphere was electric, a combination of thoughtful debate, candid insights, and the invaluable networking that has always defined our association.  Our first annual conference in Asia opened some new frontiers for us, all part of the momentum and energy that marks ITFA.

On behalf of the ITFA Board, I want to extend our sincere thanks to all who joined us in Singapore whether for the full three days or just part of the programme. Your presence added real value to the conversations and helped make the event such a success.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our 50 sponsors whose support has been instrumental in making this year’s conference a success. Your commitment not only powers this event but also underscores the trust and recognition that ITFA continues to earn in driving innovation and growth across the market.

Once again, ITFA extends its heartfelt thanks to our top sponsors listed below (without forgetting our valued bronze sponsors) .

Exclusive Sponsors

• 💎 Diamond – J.P. Morgan
• 🏆 Platinum – Deutsche Bank
• ⚙️ Titanium – Mashreq
• 🌍 Global – WTW Willis
• 🌟 Elite – Trade & Working Capital, Tamwuil Capital

Gold Sponsors

• Afreximbank, Standard Chartered

Premium Silver Sponsors

• HSBC, MCB, Mercore, ORBIAN, RMB, SAP Taulia, TEXEL

Our conference coverage opens with an article by Michael Bickers from BCR Publishing on Creating Initiatives for Closing the Trade Finance Gap. In it, he discusses how closing the global trade finance gap has remained a central theme at several international trade and development conferences in recent years, while also highlighting ITFA’s pivotal role in ensuring this issue stays high on the international agenda.

This is followed by an article by Katharine Morton of Exile Group on Navigating signal and noise in trade, where she speaks about Global markets being hit by geopolitics, trade tariffs as a nationalist tool, and regulation.

We also welcomed  contributions from Silvia Andreoletti, Reporter at Trade Finance Global, who wrote about the Leadership Perspectives drawing on the insights of senior figures helping to steer our industry through uncertainty, followed by an article by Deepesh Patel, Trade Treasury Payments on the Emerging Leaders Awards which were once again placed in the spotlight on the next generation of trade financiers, proving that our sector continues to attract fresh talent and bold ideas. Collectively, these four articles reflect the depth of dialogue and vibrant exchange that defined Singapore’s success.

Turning to broader ITFA news, we have exclusive interviews by Shannon Manders which provide invaluable insight from leading institutions. At Mashreq Bank, Malinga Fernando and Nishit Kumar explained how technology, governance, and distribution are driving their next phase of growth, while Atul Jain of Deutsche Bank offered a candid view on shifting trade corridors, the reality of ESG adoption, and the untapped value of data. Both conversations remind us of that practical innovation and strategic foresight are shaping the future of trade finance in equal measure.

Digitisation also takes centre stage in our case studies. The DNI case study article, written by Rebecca Spong, Editorial Consultant, demonstrates how digital promissory notes are already being deployed in day-to-day operations, while the article Mauritius Steps into the Digital Age of Trade Finance, contributed by ITFA Member Kovilen Coolen, Axcel Insights, celebrates the country’s bold step in legally recognising electronic bills of exchange, aligning with global frameworks and setting a benchmark for regional transformation.

To conclude the ITFA News section, we turn to the ever-popular “Voices from our Regions” section which continues to reflect the strength of our global network. From Latin America, our Latin America Regional Committee (LARC) report on ITFA’s collaboration with Blockchain Rio in Brazil, where finance, fintech, and blockchain experts came together to chart the future of digital trade. On the other side of the world, our Norther European Regional Committee (NERC) brings us news of the “Alternative Drinks” event which was held in London for those who could not attend the Singapore conference: in ITFA no one is left behind!

On a separate note, we are publishing an update of the ITFA Project Tracker which offers a transparent snapshot of our ongoing initiatives, ensuring members remain informed of progress across the association’s many activities. 

The Singapore conference may have been our centrepiece, but the contributions of our committees, members, and partners across the globe continue to ensure that ITFA remains a source of leadership, innovation, and community for the trade finance industry.

Finally, we are excited to announce and welcome the following institutions to our ever-growing association – G3 Canada Limited, NLB Komercijalna banka, Westpac Banking Corporation.

Our message continues to resonate, and we eagerly anticipate your feedback. Feel free to reach out to me directly, any of the Board Members, or our general email at info@itfa.org.

Best wishes, Sean Edwards