Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG:
- VIDEO | How credit insurance providers are adapting to evolving trade finance demands
- PODCAST | ITFA’s new board members push for diversification and capacity growth in trade finance
- Happy birthday to the Electronic Trade Documents Act!
- Pamela Mar, Sean Edwards, and Eleanor Hill join TFG’s editorial board
- ICC DSI | Complexity and opportunity on the road to digital trade
- Green trade finance: the bigger picture
- Aon report on APAC working capital performance reveals an increase in average days receivable
- Swift and Wise collaborate to make cross-border payments swifter and wiser
VIDEO | How credit insurance providers are adapting to evolving trade finance demands
To learn more about the current state of credit insurance in trade finance, Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke with Marsh’s Marcus Miller and Marie-Aude Vesval. Read more →
PODCAST | ITFA’s new board members push for diversification and capacity growth in trade finance
To learn more about the International Trade and Forfaiting Association’s (ITFA) role as global trade evolves at an extensive pace, Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke with the association’s newest board members: Sian Aspinall and N L N Swaroop. Read more →
Happy birthday to the Electronic Trade Documents Act!
Celebrating its first anniversary, the Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA) enables electronic trade documents to have the same legal status as their paper counterparts, particularly for crucial documents like bills of lading. Read more →
Pamela Mar, Sean Edwards, and Eleanor Hill join TFG’s editorial board
Trade Finance Global (TFG) is excited to announce the addition of three more industry leaders to its editorial board. Read more →
ICC DSI | Complexity and opportunity on the road to digital trade
The trade finance gap persists at high levels despite the post-COVID recovery, as does the SME finance gap which represents SMEs’ “unmet financing needs” at $5 trillion. If we are making headway, we are not doing so fast enough. Read more →
Green trade finance: the bigger picture
Talking about trade and sustainability can be a double-edged sword: international trade is denounced by climate and anti-globalisation activists for polluting the planet, but many see great potential in trade to power a green transition. Read more →
Aon report on APAC working capital performance reveals an increase in average days receivable
Aon PLC has recently published its 2024 ‘Working Capital Benchmarking Report’ for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, examining the working capital performance of 947 publicly listed firms across 12 APAC countries and territories over the last five years. Read more →
Swift and Wise collaborate to make cross-border payments swifter and wiser
The partnership, initially announced at the annual Sibos conference in Toronto on 18 September 2023, allows secure Swift transfers to be completed over Wise’s network, providing full transparency and enhanced efficiency. Read more →
- VIDEO | ITFA Cyprus: The 6 hottest topics in trade and supply chain finance right now
- SBA launches new program targeting SME trade finance gap
- Container shipping industry welcomes digital revolution, DCSA report reveals
- VIDEO | Gaining efficiencies in Know Your Counterparty (KYC) and onboarding processes for energy and commodities trading
- Lloyds Bank is re-imagining Guarantees and SBLCs in the digital age
- VOXPOP | NLN Swaroop on trade finance investment
- DFC backs Madagascar’s ambitious hydropower project
VIDEO | ITFA Cyprus: The 6 hottest topics in trade and supply chain finance right now
In a quickfire session at ITFA’s 50th Annual Trade and Forfaiting Conference held at Cyprus, TFG’s Deepesh Patel spoke with Sean Edwards, ITFA, about some of the key themes emerging throughout the conference. Read more →
SBA launches new program targeting SME trade finance gap
The US Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced a new pilot program that intends to help close the trade finance gap experienced by SME exporters. Read more →
Container shipping industry welcomes digital revolution, DCSA report reveals
The ‘State of the Industry’ report, released today by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) is based on a survey of 400 cargo owners and in-depth interviews with 45 industry stakeholders across 15 legal jurisdictions. Read more →
VIDEO | Gaining efficiencies in Know Your Counterparty (KYC) and onboarding processes for energy and commodities trading
To learn about the development and difficulties for risk practitioners surrounding counterparty lifecycle management and supplier onboarding, Trade Finance Global spoke with Aoife Doyle, Vice President of Product Marketing at Fenergo. Read more →
Lloyds Bank is re-imagining Guarantees and SBLCs in the digital age
Lloyds Bank has introduced a new digital solution to simplify the application process for guarantees and standby letters of credit (SBLCs). While available for all Corporate clients, the solution is particularly beneficial for SMEs and mid-sized corporates. Read more →
VOXPOP | NLN Swaroop on trade finance investment
Trade Finance Global’s sat down with NLN Swaroop to discuss ITFA’s Trade Finance Investment Ecosystem—or ITFIE—an industry group of trade finance practitioners that focuses on developing trade as an asset class. Read more →
DFC backs Madagascar’s ambitious hydropower project
The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has approved technical assistance funding for a pioneering 120 megawatt (MW) hydropower project in Madagascar, to expand the country’s clean energy capacity. Read more →
- State of factoring in Georgia: An update on collaboration and regulation
- ADB initiative to combat trade-based money laundering through collaboration, technology, and intelligence-rich data
- Industry leaders to discuss launching new credit insurance ventures in upcoming webinar
- A win for trade finance? A balanced approach to Basel 3.1 in the UK
- Has trade finance had a ‘brat summer’?
- Emirates NBD partners with Enigio to accelerate trade document digitisation
- EP Resources adopts Surecomp’s RIVO™ to automate trade finance
- VOXPOP | Marcus Miller on originate-to-distribute (OTD) model
State of factoring in Georgia: An update on collaboration and regulation
In Georgia, the high costs associated with providing banking services, and stringent creditworthiness or collateral requirements, pose significant challenges for many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking financing through lending offers. Read more →
ADB initiative to combat trade-based money laundering through collaboration, technology, and intelligence-rich data
A pilot program led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has demonstrated a promising new approach to combating trade-based money laundering (TBML): a form of crime enabling illicit funds flow through the global trade system. Read more →
Industry leaders to discuss launching new credit insurance ventures in upcoming webinar
Trade Finance Global (TFG) is set to host an exclusive, virtual roundtable webinar entitled “Launching a New Credit Insurance Venture: A Comprehensive Guide.” Read more →
A win for trade finance? A balanced approach to Basel 3.1 in the UK
The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has released its second policy statement on the implementation of Basel 3.1, set to take effect in January 2025. Read more →
Has trade finance had a ‘brat summer’?
Can we call trade finance “that girl who is a bit messy and loves to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes”? Is it “honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile”? Read more →
Emirates NBD partners with Enigio to accelerate trade document digitisation
The Middle Eastern bank Emirates NBD has partnered with Enigio, the technology provider responsible for the trace:original platform, in a move towards trade digitisation. Read more →
EP Resources adopts Surecomp’s RIVO™ to automate trade finance
EP Resources, the Swiss-based energy and commodities trading company, has chosen Surecomp’s RIVO™ solution to automate its trade finance operations. Read more →
VOXPOP | Marcus Miller on originate-to-distribute (OTD) model
At the International Trade and Forfaiting Association’s (ITFA) 50th annual conference, Trade Finance Global spoke to Marcus Miller about the OTD model and responsiveness to regulation. Read more →
- The New Spice Road: How trade finance developments are transforming Africa and the Middle East
- Podcast | Back to the basics with ITFA’s trade finance educational seminar
- Adapting to change: Insights from the 2024 CGI and BAFT Trade Technology Survey
- ICC DSI reveals 22 case studies, highlighting the positive impact of digital standards and interoperable frameworks on global trade
- Lloyds Bank adopts AI technology for trade finance operations
- Vietnam’s first LNG-to-power plants backed by international banks and export credit agencies
- Supply chain industry leaders back push towards electronic bills of lading
The New Spice Road: How trade finance developments are transforming Africa and the Middle East
As this magazine edition will demonstrate, it is crucial to monitor trade finance developments in Africa and the Middle East, as they will likely inform the industry’s trajectory across the world. Read more →
Podcast | Back to the basics with ITFA’s trade finance educational seminar
From innovations in financial instruments, risk mitigation techniques, digitalisation, and regulatory changes, trade finance – a critical enabler of global trade – has been experiencing a significant transformation. Read more →
Adapting to change: Insights from the 2024 CGI and BAFT Trade Technology Survey
The 2024 CGI and BAFT Trade Technology Survey reveals the strategic priorities and challenges which banks face and offers a comprehensive view of their adaptation strategies. Read more →
ICC DSI reveals 22 case studies, highlighting the positive impact of digital standards and interoperable frameworks on global trade
The study builds on the Key Trade Documents and Data Element (KTDDE) Framework, which uses interoperable frameworks and globally accepted digital standards to address challenges across supply chains. Read more →
Lloyds Bank adopts AI technology for trade finance operations
Lloyds Bank has announced a partnership with Cleareye.ai, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform specialising in trade finance solutions: the first collaboration of its kind in the UK banking sector. Read more →
Vietnam’s first LNG-to-power plants backed by international banks and export credit agencies
In collaboration, Citi, ING, K-SURE, and SERV have successfully closed a $521.5 million, 12-year supported financing loan for Petrovietnam Power Corporation (PV Power). Read more →
Supply chain industry leaders back push towards electronic bills of lading
A coalition of major supply chain industry associations has thrown its weight behind the ‘declaration of the electronic bill of lading’ (eBL), adding momentum towards modernising international trade documentation. Read more →
- TFaaS: Survey reveals digitalisation’s growing impact on trade finance
- Whitepaper launch: Factoring and credit insurance: A partnership for financial resilience
- TFG unveils revamped website
- Exploring the symbiotic relationship between factoring and credit insurance
- Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa: Challenges and opportunities for the Sub-Saharan giants
- Visa and Revolut partner to offer real-time cross-border transactions for businesses
- What is the renminbi’s place in global payments?
- Monthly TFG & ICC DSI Column: How can APEC deliver tangible gains for digital trade?
TFaaS: Survey reveals digitalisation’s growing impact on trade finance
As businesses strive to optimise processes, enhance efficiency, and meet growing customer demands, the tools they use need to evolve as well. Read more →
Whitepaper launch: Factoring and credit insurance: A partnership for financial resilience
TFG and FCI are thrilled to launch its latest whitepaper. At FCI’s 56th Annual Meeting in Seoul, a panel of experts discussed the intricate relationship between credit insurance and factoring. Read more →
TFG unveils revamped website
Trade Finance Global, the leading platform for trade, treasury, and payments information, has today announced the launch of its redesigned native website. Read more →
Exploring the symbiotic relationship between factoring and credit insurance
Credit insurance and factoring are crucial financial tools that can help mitigate risks and enhance liquidity, especially in international trade, where macroeconomic volatility and complex environments are common. Read more →
Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa: Challenges and opportunities for the Sub-Saharan giants
Recent leadership changes or upcoming elections in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa will impact economic and trade policy. This could be a tipping point for these countries, either strengthening their trade position or creating new challenges. Read more →
Visa and Revolut partner to offer real-time cross-border transactions for businesses
The collaboration aims to streamline international transfers for businesses, addressing traditional challenges of expensive transfer fees, lengthy processing times, and complex information requirements. Read more →
What is the renminbi’s place in global payments?
According to recent data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, in July 2024, 53% of China’s inbound and outbound transactions were conducted using the renminbi. Read more →
Monthly TFG & ICC DSI Column: How can APEC deliver tangible gains for digital trade?
APEC continues to hold fast to its aim to build a free, open and transparent trade and investment community as part of its Putrajaya Vision 2040 – even as the cause of free trade comes under fire globally. Read more →
- Yieldpoint v Kimura: a victory for market practice, or just a warning on how to draft?
- Strengthening Global Supply Chains: The role of digitalisation in enhancing transparency, efficiency, and resilience
- Adapting to changing compliance and regulation in the age of data and digitalisation
- Growth of B2B marketplaces for factoring and invoice discounting: the Indian experience
- ADB and Dashen Bank Partner to Boost Trade Finance in Ethiopia
- BII and DP World partner to develop DRC’s first Deepwater Container Port
- ABN AMRO Bank implements CBA’s IBAS transaction due diligence software, for trade finance compliance
- EDC faces losses on Thames Water loans
Yieldpoint v Kimura: a victory for market practice, or just a warning on how to draft?
The Court of Appeal has reversed a decision regarding an offer under a BAFT Master Risk Participation Agreement (MRPA), in a case between Kimura Commodity Trade Finance Fund Limited and Yieldpoint Stable Value Fund, LP. Read more →
Strengthening Global Supply Chains: The role of digitalisation in enhancing transparency, efficiency, and resilience
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, organisations need to leverage on digitisation in order to manage risks across their supply chains. Read more →
Adapting to changing compliance and regulation in the age of data and digitalisation
Data is king, especially as the industry slowly but surely embraces the move towards full digitalisation. Read more →
Growth of B2B marketplaces for factoring and invoice discounting: the Indian experience
India introduced digital Trade Receivable Discounting System (TReDS) platforms in 2017 to help SMEs overcome late payment issues, with three licensed entities expected to reach $25 billion in throughput by FY 2024-25. Read more →
ADB and Dashen Bank Partner to Boost Trade Finance in Ethiopia
The African Development Bank (ADB) Group has approved a $40 million transaction guarantee facility for Dashen Bank, aimed at enhancing trade finance activities in Ethiopia. Read more →
BII and DP World partner to develop DRC’s first Deepwater Container Port
British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has committed up to $35 million towards the development of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) first deepwater container port. Read more →
ABN AMRO Bank implements CBA’s IBAS transaction due diligence software, for trade finance compliance
ABN AMRO Bank, the third-largest Dutch bank, has gone live using Commercial Banking Applications AS (CBA)’s IBAS transaction due diligence functionality, to help combat financial crime and ensure full regulatory compliance. Read more →
EDC faces losses on Thames Water loans
In the water sector, a drop in infrastructure financing challenges creates ripples across global markets. Read more →