Virtual Forum of the ARC Working Group on SME Trade Finance

ITFA’s Africa Regional Committee (ARC) is holding the first open forum for its Working Group on SME trade finance, which was created in September 2024. This virtual forum is aimed at all ITFA members, especially those involved in financing or underwriting trade in Africa, as well as the wider trade finance community.

Webinar details

Date: 30 January, 2025
Time: 10:00 UK / 11:00 CET
Platform: Zoom (joining details will be sent by email to all those registered, a few days prior to the webinar)

The ARC WG on SME trade finance was created in September 2024 to address the most persistent problem facing African traders and their banks: the trade finance gap, which has been estimated in Africa at over USD 130bn per year. Drawing on financial professionals from across ITFA’s membership, including DFIs, multinational, pan-regional and local African banks, NBFIs and fintechs, the ARC WG is developing solutions to close the trade finance gap that can be rolled out to the market and scaled. The WG’s work is closely aligned with the mission and ambitions of the Trade Finance Conference of Parties (TF COP), which was held at the IFC’s headquarters in Washington, DC, in late October.

In this virtual forum, members of the ARC WG will introduce the work of its members, showcase financial products, templates and guidance that have been developed for African markets, and take questions, suggestions and insights from online attendees.

AGENDA

10:00 AM – 10:05 AM | Welcome and Housekeeping

• Moderator: Dr Tedd George, ARC Secretariat

10:05 AM – 10:10 AM | Opening Remarks

• Speaker: George Wilson, Chairman of the Africa Regional Council: ‘Rationale and mission of the ARC Working Group’

10:10 AM – 10:25 AM | Overview of the ARC Working Group

• Dr Tedd George, ARC WG Secretariat
• Ahanna Anaba, Head of Digital Solutions & Partnerships, Finverity
• Introduction to the ARC Working Group, its focus and membership
• Review of survey results

10:25 AM – 10:45 AM | Overview of the ARC’s Workstreams

• Legal & documentation: Shona Tatchell, Director of the Trade Facilitation Programme, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• Financial products: Kevin Holmes, Product Development Portfolio Head, RMB
• Fintech: Ahanna Anaba, Head of Digital Solutions & Partnerships, Finverity
• Introduction to the focus, work and outputs of the workstreams

10:45 AM – 11:05 AM | Panel Discussion: How can we think innovatively to bridge Africa’s trade finance gap?

• Moderator: Dr Tedd George, ARC Secretariat
• Anne-Marie Woolley, CEO, Africa Global Trade Finance
• ⁠Richard Lubira, Head of SCF & Stock Finance, I&M
• ⁠Oluwole Ajiboye, Head of Commercial Finance, Guinness Nigeria

11:05 AM – 11:25 AM | Q&A and Audience Engagement

• Open Q&A and audience discussion, with polls and chat-based questions

11:25 AM – 11:30 AM | Closing Remarks & Call to Action

• Speaker: George Wilson, ARC Chair

Moderator: Tedd George, ARC Secretariat

The educational event is open to all and free for participation, welcoming not only ITFA members but also individuals from diverse affiliations and interests. If you’d like to attend, the registration button is below.

REGISTER

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and connected with the latest in trade finance.