Trade Finance Talks

First cross-border factoring facility between Armenia and Georgia supported by EBRD

During the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) 32nd Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Trade Finance Global spoke with several industry leaders to learn more about the particulars of a first-of-its-kind transaction. 
 
Access here: 
tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e117-first-cross-border-factoring-facility-between-armenia-georgia-ebrd/

Factoring in the UAE: Developments and global implications

Factoring: An important finance product that is gaining popularity in recent years. While factoring is becoming more well-known, it is important to take proper steps to understand the legal framework that governs these transactions. Factoring laws play a critical role in determining the rights and responsibilities of the parties involved in a factoring arrangement, as well as the powers of financial institutions to provide various factoring products. 
 
Of particular interest, the UAE recently passed a new factoring law, which marks a significant milestone for the trade and supply chain finance community. To break down the intricacies of factoring and to provide an overview of the UAE law, Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke to Marek Dubovec, director at the International Law Institute and professor at the University of Arizona.

C4DTI wrap up - making trade cheaper, faster and simpler

In this episode of Trade Finance Talks, Deepesh Patel, editor at TFG was joined by Chris Southworth, co-chair of Legal Reform Advisory Board at ICC Digital Standards Initiative, and Nick Davies, director of the Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation. 
 
The trio explored the next steps, key actions, and ways to drive the adoption of digital trade.
 
Southworth and Davies emphasised the importance of collaboration and working together to modernise the global trading system for the digital economy.
 
The podcast touched upon several significant themes, including electronic negotiable instruments such as ePU, eBLs, and eBoE transactions going digital. 
 

Marshall Islands to Liberia, monitoring 68,218 vessels raises alarms for trade financiers

In 2023, there are over 68,000 vessels sailing around the oceans, carrying the goods that we all rely on.
Simply put, the world’s oceans and maritime trade flow are massive.
The oceans' vastness presents a particular challenge to monitor and regulate ocean vessels for the maritime transport industry. Of the 68,000 ocean vessels, more than 12%, or 8,000, have an unknown owner, creating significant risks for the industry.
To better understand the world of ocean vessels and maritime trade regulation, Trade Finance Global’s (TFG) Deepesh Patel spoke with Michael Byrne, CEO of IIBLP and Tom Cardamone, CEO of Global Financial Integrity. 
 

Canada’s Minister Ng: Building ecosystems to support women-owned businesses

As the readers of Trade Finance Global (TFG) know, March is International Women’s Month. This month, the world is highlighting women across the globe and all industries. 
 
Throughout the month, TFG has heard numerous personal stories, outlining what it is like to be a woman in the workplace in 2023, giving examples of how far the world has come, and pointing out the areas which need improvement. 
 
TFG spoke to the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, EDC, to discuss the Canadian Government’s role in international trade and supporting women in the workplace.
 
Read more here: 
 

Moving beyond gender: challenging stereotypes and biases in the workplace

As part of our Women in Trade Campaign, Trade Finance Global’s Natasha Roston spoke with Catherine Lang-Anderson, partner at Allen & Overy, to hear about her personal experiences and lessons learned as a female leader in the legal industry.

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ Natalia Clements on challenges in the workplace and equitable company policies

To better understand the larger picture of ‘Embracing Equity’, TFG’s Brian Canup spoke to Natalia Clements, senior trade finance specialist at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, who shared her experiences as a woman in the insurance industry, the challenges she has faced, and the importance of embracing equity in the workplace.

From policy to practice: navigating the road to digital trade in 2023

Trade and receivables finance, in football terms

With an estimated 3.5 billion fans around the world, it's no wonder the finance behind football piques interest, even in the world of trade and receivables finance.
In this podcast, Trade Finance Global (TFG) delved into various facets of trade finance that affect the world of football, including player and receivables finance, project and export finance for clubs, and the ownership and running of football clubs.
Read the full article here: https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e109-trade-receivables-finance-football-terms/ 

Dirty financing: the slow progression of ESG

Since 195 countries signed the Paris Agreement at COP 21 in 2015, ESG has been a central talking point in the trade finance world. The term “green finance” has seen a 300% search increase on Google from 2015-2023.  
Shifting the conversation towards sustainability was undoubtedly an important step, as the shipping and trade sector contributes around 20% of global emissions. But what has come from this dialogue?
The trade finance community continues to finance fossil fuels, and there have been numerous examples of greenwashing in recent years. What are realistic expectations for ESG standards, and how does the trade finance community accomplish them?
To better understand how the trade finance industry can take the next steps in sustainability, Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke with Roberto Leva, trade & supply chain finance relationship manager, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Johanna Wissing, who is interviewed as board member of ITFA. Johanna also is a director of finance syndication at Credit Suisse.
 
https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/podcast-s1-e108-dirty-financing-the-slow-progression-of-esg/