International TFG Trade

Awards 2022

In cooperation with BAFT

Now in its sixth year running, the TFG International Trade Awards 2022, in cooperation with BAFT, recognise those who have provided an outstanding contribution to global trade and finance.

International Trade Awards 2022

The 2022 Steering Committee

The TFG Steering Committee is made up of subject matter experts and leaders across all areas of trade, including finance, technology, policy and governance.

Members of the steering committee will provide their impartial views and input into TFG’s leading annual awards campaign around promoting inclusive trade as a force for good.

  • Mark Abrams, Trade Finance Global
  • Steven Beck, ADB
  • Robert Besseling, Pangea Risk
  • Noreen Cesaro, OWIT UK
  • Sean Doherty, World Economic Forum
  • Sean Edwards, ITFA
  • Emmanuelle Ganne, World Trade Organisation
  • Angela Koll, Commerzbank
  • Tomasch Kubiak, ICC
  • Maria Mogilnaya, Independent
  • Peter Mulroy, FCI
  • Rudolf Putz, EBRD
  • Harri Rantananten, Standardised Trust
  • Ian Sayers, International Trade Centre
  • Susan Starnes, IFC
  • Scott Stevenson, BAFT
  • NLN Swaroop, HSBC
  • Erik Timmermans, WOA

Global

Best Financiers Category

Best Trade Financier – Citi

Chris Cox

“We are delighted to have won the Best Trade Financier and the Best Supply Chain Financier Awards this year. Thank you to the judges. I am proud that Citi’s Trade & Working Capital Solutions team has stepped up to help our clients succeed in what have been extraordinarily difficult times for trade.  

“These awards recognise that we have found creative solutions to their priorities and supported their business growth. We are focused on supporting our clients globally and finding new and increasingly digital ways to finance their business. We are grateful for these awards; they are proof of considerable hard work and commitment through challenging times.”

– Chris Cox, Global Head of Trade & Working Capital Solutions

Best Receivables Financier – ING Bank

Oliver Petersen

“We are extremely pleased to be recognized with this award for the work we have done over the past year. We are proud to have been able to support our clients in these turbulent times.”

– Oliver Petersen, Managing Director – Head of Trade Solutions

Best Supply Chain Financier – Citi

Chris Cox

“We are delighted to have won the Best Trade Financier and the Best Supply Chain Financier Awards this year. Thank you to the judges. I am proud that Citi’s Trade & Working Capital Solutions team has stepped up to help our clients succeed in what have been extraordinarily difficult times for trade. 

These awards recognise that we have found creative solutions to their priorities and supported their business growth.  We are focused on supporting our clients globally and finding new and increasingly digital ways to finance their business. We are grateful for these awards; they are proof of considerable hard work and commitment through challenging times.”

– Chris Cox, Global Head of Trade & Working Capital Solutions

Best Export Credit Agency – UK Export Finance

Louis Taylor

 “We are delighted to be rated as the world’s best Export Credit Agency. UKEF support went from strength to strength in the last year. We responded to the market’s needs and provided billions of financial support without a penny for overseas fossil fuels projects.

We will continue to provide vital support for businesses in 2022 and finance their international ambitions.”

– Louis Taylor, Chief Executive Officer

Best Multilateral Development Bank – Afreximbank

Benedict Oramah

“Afreximbank is honoured to receive this award. We remain committed to our mission of expanding access to trade finance in Africa, even in times of global economic difficulties. In 2020 and 2021, Afreximbank intervened forcibly in support of African economies as they battled the COVID 19 pandemic.

“Over US$7 billion was disbursed to African States to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The Bank helped central and commercial banks to avert trade debt payment defaults and boosted health systems through technology-enabled improved access to essential medical supplies. 

“We are proud of the outcome of our continued efforts to stimulate a consistent expansion, diversification and development of African trade and thank Trade Finance Global for this award”

– Benedict O. Oramah, President

Tradetech Innovator Award – Surecomp

Enno-Burghard Weitzel

“We are delighted to be recognised as a leading trade tech innovator. We believe that sustainable global trade promotes growth and improves society, and as such, companies of every size should be able to trade easily, seamlessly and with a superior user experience. To that end, we are committed to the innovative development of collaborative trade finance technology and we’d like to thank Trade Finance Global for this award. “ 

– Enno-Burghard Weitzel, SVP Strategy and Business Development

Sustainable Trade Finance Award – EBRD

Rudolf Putz

“We are delighted that the EBRD has won this prestigious award. This award also recognizes the achievements of our more than 100 partner banks under the EBRD Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) who have successfully utilised TFP facilities for financing more than 1,300 green trade finance transactions in 24 EBRD countries of operation with a total amount of more than EUR l Bbn.”

– Rudolf Putz, Head Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP)

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Regional

Best Finance Providers by Geography

Best Trade Financier in Western Europe – Commerzbank

Jörg Motel

“As a founding member of the Marco Polo initiative, this award is a great confirmation for Commerzbank’s pioneering work in using DLT technology for trade finance transactions.

I believe that our leading role here paves the way for the trade finance sector to become faster, more transparent und ultimately less burdensome for our clients.”

– Jörg Motel, Managing Director Cluster Lead Trade Finance

Best Trade Financier in Central and Eastern Europe – Raiffeisen Bank International

Sabine Zucker

“Trade keeps our world going – and any interruption has serious direct and indirect consequences, as we sadly have to witness these days. Trade Finance facilitates international commerce and in many cases makes it possible in the first place. RBI has focused from the beginning on offering innovative Trade Finance solutions that make our customers’ lives easier. We appreciate this award very much as an external confirmation of our efforts and achievements that will support us in our daily work.”

– Sabine Zucker, Managing Director / Head of Trade Finance & Transaction Banking

Best Trade Financier in the Middle East – First Abu Dhabi Bank USA

Nabil Noueihed

“We thank BAFT for hosting such a great event, and for honouring FAB with the award of being the best Trade Financier in the Middle East. It is FAB’s ongoing strategy to expand in the Middle East Region, and to connect all the trade corridors globally”

– Nabil Noueihed, Head of Global Transaction Banking Americas

Best Trade Financier in Africa – Rand Merchant Bank

Louis du Plessis

“We are delighted to be recognised by Trade Finance Global and BAFT as Best Trade Financier in Africa. The award signifies our promise of delivering the best solutions for our client’s trade finance needs and also our commitment to support the growth of Africa.”

– Louis du Plessis, Head of Trade Finance

Best Trade Financier in Asia Pacific – Bank of China

Xiao Wang

“It is a great honour to receive this award. We are truly grateful for the recognition of our long-standing commitment to deliver integrated trade services for clients across the globe. It encourages us to devote our continuous efforts to the innovation and digitization of trade products so as to better satisfy the diversified needs of our customers.’

– Xiao Wang, General Manager, Global Transaction Banking Department

Best Trade Financier in North America – J.P. Morgan

Keith Murphy

“We are grateful and thrilled to accept the award for Best Trade Financier in North America. As many of our valued clients and stakeholders know, we made a large investment in our franchise in North America – across talent, technology, products, and service – to create better value across supply chains, operations, and sales channels.

This award is a testament to that conscious decision to invest where our clients need us most, and more importantly, to our team’s commitment to deliver through challenging times. We are humbled and will continue to work hard for our clients, our stakeholders, and the entire Trade Finance industry. The world needs this industry to shine now more than ever.”

– Keith Murphy, Executive Director – North America Head of Trade and Working Capital Finance

Best Trade Financier in Latin America – Santander

Mencía Bobo Aritio

“In the fast-changing environment in which we operate,  being nimble and having a great team enables us to turn things around quickly to meet our clients’ needs. This award is a testament to the hard work and commitment of  our team”

– Mencía Bobo Aritio, Global Head Trade & Working Capital Solutions at Santander Corporate and Investment Banking

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Specialists

Best Trade Finance Services Category

Best Trade Finance Deal of the Year – Allen & Overy

Catherine Lang-Anderson

“We are proud to be awarded Best Trade  Finance Deal of the Year for the Tesco sustainability-linked supply chain financing programme. Advising on cutting-edge transactions such as this one ensures that we can continue to give our clients deep and valuable insight into current market trends. 

Trade and commodity finance has been a  large growth area and focus for us as a firm in  recent years and this award demonstrates our  commitment to continuing to make this a  market-leading trade and commodity finance  practice.”

– Catherine Lang-Anderson, Partner

Best Trade Finance Education Provider – The London Institute of Banking & Finance

Alex Gray

“We’re proud to have supported tens of thousands of trade and transaction banking professionals across the world, get the skills they need to succeed in this vital global sector. Trade finance faces a period of fast and profound change, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and other global events. 

“We want to play our part by helping those working in the industry to develop their skills and knowledge. A big thank you to all our learners for investing in their futures with us.”

– Alex Gray, Head of Trade and Transaction Banking

Best Trade Finance Law Firm – Sullivan & Worcester LLP

Geoff Wynne

“We’re very pleased to accept the award which recognizes our continuing work in and commitment to trade finance.”

– Geoff Wynne, Partner and Head of Trade Finance

Best Trade Credit Insurance Provider – AIG

Ana Velandia Evan

 “We are delighted to have been awarded Best Trade Credit Insurance Provider at the 2022 Trade Finance Global Awards. 

“At AIG we pride ourselves on putting the customer first by finding high-quality risk mitigation and capital optimisation Trade Finance solutions. This award is a testament to the hard work, diligence, and creativity of our team across the globe.”

– Ana Velandia Evan, Global Head of Trade Finance

Best Islamic Financier – International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation

Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol

“It is with great honour that we receive this award. This recognition is not only for us but also for our partners and stakeholders whom we support in their efforts to promote Islamic finance across markets. 

“We hold a strong belief that financing can be done right in the interest of people, communities and nations and we shall continue to provide OIC member countries with the needed support as they look to improve lives. Therefore, we dedicate this award to our partners, staff, and OIC members”

– Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO

Trade Digitisation Award – Enigio AB

Patrik Zekkar

“We are delighted to receive this BAFT industry recognition for our efforts to digitalise the trade domain with our core solution trace:original. We believe the industry needs a freely transferable solution, independent, platform agnostic and interoperable with anyone and anywhere, just like paper is today.

“Big thanks to all stakeholders in the trade community for supporting, cooperating, and pushing trade digitalisation to happen. We are also very happy for all that have challenged us during this journey, which forces us to continuously raise our standards and to excel.”

– Patrik Zekkar, CEO

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Individuals

Individuals Categories

Outstanding Contribution to Trade Finance – Steven Beck

Steven Beck

“What I’ve achieved is thanks to the dedication and hard work of an excellent team as well as friends and colleagues in the broader industry: people striving to make global trade and supply chains green, robust, inclusive, transparent, and socially responsible. Lots more to do. Thanks so much.”

– Steven Beck, Head, Trade and Supply Chain Finance

Rising Trade Finance Star – Haitham Elsaid

Haitham Elsaid

“It’s my privilege to be selected for this award. This is just an amazing moment and one of the most important scenes of my professional career. I truly appreciate all for supporting and helping me in my professional growth. 

“This award will inspire me to achieve success in the future. I would like to thank all the jury members for choosing me eligible for this award. I am unable to express in words how much I appreciate this moment. Thank you all for this honour.”

– Haitham Elsaid, Foreign Letters of Guarantee Manager

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About the Author

Joana Fabiao was previously a Marketing Manager at Trade Finance Global (TFG).

She holds a BA in International Business from the University of Westminster, with a core focus on Global Economic Issues, International Financial Management and Organisational Behaviour. She also holds a certificate in Bloomberg Market Concepts.

Prior to working at TFG she worked as Junior Consultant in the Marketing and Events Department at Westminster Business Consultants, focusing on their social media campaigns, content and marketing strategy.

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