Trade Finance Talks

In this episode of Trade Finance Talks, Brian Canup, assistant editor at TFG, was joined by Channing Mavrellis, director of the Illicit Trade Program at Global Financial Integrity, to delve into the world of TBML. Together, they explored the latest developments and insights surrounding trade-based money laundering (TBML) practices.

Historically, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has always been a cornerstone of the global trade landscape, with its strategic location, abundant resources, and diverse economies. However, the region’s complex geopolitical dynamics, regulatory challenges, and ever-changing markets have posed significant obstacles to trade finance in recent decades. 

Trade Finance Global is proud to partner with Dr Robert Besseling, Pangea-Risk and John Miller, Trade Data Monitor to provide an overview of MENA-related political risk and trade data. Providing a succinct overview of MENA politics and trade breakdown is a crucial component of any publication that aims to provide comprehensive coverage of global affairs.

During the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) 32nd Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, TFG spoke with several industry leaders to learn more about the particulars of a first-of-its-kind transaction. 

At the ICC United Kingdom’s annual conference in partnership with the Center for Digital Trade and Innovation, Trade Finance Global’s (TFG) Deepesh Patel spoke with Miriam Goldby, Professor of Shipping, Insurance, and Commercial Law at Queen Mary, University of London, to learn more about the adoption of the electronic trade documents bill in the UK, breaking new ground in the transition to paperless trade.

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.

At the 2023 ITFA Trade and Investment Forum in London, Trade Finance Global spoke with Alexander Malaket, president, OPUS Advisory Services, to learn more about trade finance as an asset class, the promise of a standardised rating system, and the role of ESG as a catalyst for investment

VIDEO: Learn more about the letter of credit and the rules governing its use in this four-part interview series with Pradeep Taneja of ICC Bahrain. Includes: tips and explanations of the UCP 600 and the evolution of the rules.

In 2023, environmental and climate issues will again be at the top of the policy agenda in the Middle East and North Africa. The upcoming COP28 climate conference in Dubai and the rapid growth in the renewables sector in Egypt and North Africa both point to the growing power of MENA states within global climate politics.

Quite often, trade does not happen directly between the producer of the raw material, the manufacturer and the end user. The supply chain process involved are complex, with each point in the journey ‘adding value’ and potentially adding to the “sustainability footprint” of the product. 

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 Arab region has seen significant progress in education, particularly for women, thanks to the ambitious Visions for 2030 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Governments have prioritised education reform to break generational cycles of poverty, inequality, and stagnant economic growth, leading to Arab women excelling in education and driving regional prosperity.

Trade is critical in advancing economies, including those in the MENA region. At the same time, trade finance presents unique opportunities for criminal exploitation, also referred to as Trade Based Financial Crime (TBFC).

For many SMEs, the financing gap is always a major concern. It is reported that financing shortages count for more than half of SMEs’ problems. This issue is important for national policymakers, and financiers, as SMEs are major drivers of economic growth, employment, and social development in all economies, but especially in developing countries.

The Basel regulations have been continuously refined and updated to address new risks and challenges in the global banking sector, with the overall aim of promoting financial stability and preventing future crises.