Trade Finance Talks

'China Plus One' Strategy - Best of Both Worlds?

Trade in Asia is changing at an alarming pace. The US-China trade war continues to grind on, firms are now seriously thinking about their existing supply chain footprints, and understanding the importance of free trade agreements in and around APAC has never been more important.
TFG heard from Dr. Deborah Elms, CEO, Asian Trade Centre on the impact of COVID19 for businesses in Singapore and also more widely in Asia Pacific.
Full article and transcript here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e45-china-plus-one-strategy-best-of-both-worlds/

WEF - The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Inclusive digital trade is the future

It's never been a more important time to recognise and accelerate the adoption of technology to help enhance, promote and ease global trade. 
Moreover, there are many challenges associated with the advancement of technologies, which are coinciding with the rapid emergence of: ecological constraints, the advent of increasingly multipolar international order and rising inequality. And to add to that, the economic and health impacts of the global pandemic Coronavirus have been huge. 
With that in mind, we were joined by the World Economic Forum’s Ziyang Fan, joining us from San Francisco.
Full article and transcript here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-wef-the-fourth-industrial-revolution-inclusive-digital-trade-is-the-future/

ICC SOS – Save Lives. Save Livelihoods. Save Our SMEs

The coronavirus crisis has affected MSMEs disproportionately and has revealed their vulnerability to the supply and demand shock, particularly around liquidity and cash flow. It’s estimated that 40-60% of small businesses might not reopen after the Coronavirus pandemic. 200 million full-time job losses are expected between April and July 2020.
TFG heard from ICC’s Secretary General John Denton and talked about actions needed from governments, private sector leaders and international institutions to ensure the continued viability of our MSMEs.
Full article and transcript here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e43-icc-sos-save-lives-save-livelihoods-save-our-smes/.

$5 trillion and counting - the MSME Finance Gap

Today we’re talking about micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and their importance in real-world economic growth, job creation, and innovation.
Creating opportunities through MSMEs, particularly in emerging and developing markets is crucial, as it can help advance economic development and reduce poverty.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are one of the strongest drivers of economic development, innovation, and employment. Access to finance is often identified as a critical barrier to growth for MSMEs. Creating opportunities for MSMEs in emerging markets is a key way to advance economic development and reduce poverty. 
However, there is an MSME financing gap, to the magnitude of over $5 trillion USD according to the IFC’s recent analysis by the SME Finance Forum. Some 200 million businesses worldwide need financing to invest, grow and create new jobs, and they account for 9 out of 10 of business, half of global GDP, and two-thirds of job worldwide.
We wanted to investigate this and discuss why governors, financiers, and private sector players need to come together to support developments in the MSME sector.
Following on from TFG’s recent announcement of an industry partnership with the SME Finance Forum, today I’m joined by their CEO, Matt Gamser. Transcript here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e42-the-5-trillion-usd-msme-finance-gap-2/

Bitter Sweet: Global trade disruption and its impact on sugar flows

The ongoing impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted many businesses. Alongside the downfall of the oil industry and many others, we discuss the impact on a common commodity in everyone's household - sugar.
TFG is very delighted to hear from Tanya and Stephen of Czarnikow discussing in detail the impact of Covid-19 on sugar supply chains. Czarnikow buys, sells, and moves sugar, food ingredients, packaging, and ethanol around the world.
Full transcript and article here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e41-bitter-sweet-global-trade-disruption-and-its-impact-on-sugar-flows/

KYP (Know Your Policy) – Learnings from CPRI in a post-Covid world

It is estimated that some EUR600bn of support to real economy businesses is provided by the credit risk insurance market, according to a recent survey by ITFA. 
 
Credit insurance is crucial in facilitating bank lending and in supporting trade flows. Trade credit insurance cover is largely used to provide capital relief - i.e., non-payment credit risk insurance, surety and risk participations.
COVID-19 has certainly changed the behaviour of underwriters, and we wanted to find out where the CPRI market might be headed in a post-pandemic world. 
TFG are proud media partners of TXF Commodities Virtual 2020, a two-part virtual and physical event in May and November 2020, where we will be joined by experts from across the commodity finance sector, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges.

SWIFT's 2020 Standards Release - An introduction to Messaging Types (MTs)

Structured data and standard formats for exchanging information around bank guarantees and letters of credit are key for the digitisation of trade finance. Interbank and bank-to-corporate messaging remains a challenge, and whilst the industry welcomes moves towards structured data and SWIFT’s new messaging types, there are still challenges. TFG heard from Olli Jääsaari, Standardised Trust expert and Nordea’s Trade Finance & WCM Product Manager.
Full interview here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/letters-of-credit/swift-messaging-types/

APAC Trade and Supply Chain Finance in 2020 - Market Commentary

Today's podcast is all about Asian trade flows and their expected growth, which is predicted to be between 4-9%, according to the ICC. A leader on the world stage, Asia produces, trades and consumes over two-thirds of major commodities. The region is on track to top half of global GDP and 40% of the world’s consumption by 2040. $900 billion of the $1.5 trillion USD trade finance gap stems from underfinanced businesses in Asia, yet promising developments around regional free trade agreements and the delivery of innovative technology born out of the APAC region is undeniable.

Wolfsberg Group: Fighting financial crime when the going gets tough

Money fuels serious crime, including drugs trafficking, human slavery and terrorism. Managing financial crime risk while keeping up with the speed at which trade finance and payments technologies are emerging presents a huge challenge for banks around the world. TFG heard from Standard Chartered’s Group Head of Financial Crime Compliance, David Howes.

ADB: Development Banks step up in the fight against COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on trade finance is hard to gauge at this current point in time, as the situation changes day by day. But the requirements for multinationals and development banks has never been more important in keeping supply chains running. TFG heard from Steven Beck, Head of Trade & Supply Chain at Asian Development Bank, joining from Manila.
Full transcript here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e36-development-banks-step-up-in-the-fight-against-covid-19-adb-steven-beck/