Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG:

  • Q&A with Absa: Trade finance’s role in a sustainable future
  • Podcast | COP28 and beyond: ICC United Kingdom’s views on climate action and sustainable trade finance
  • VIDEO | From the boardroom: FCI reflections on receivables finance and factoring
  • VIDEO | Distributing trade finance assets – The new era
  • Global trade shows resilience (for now) in the face of increased fragmentation: Standard Chartered Global Research special report
  • Surecomp announces CargoX as new partner on RIVO platform
  • COP28: UAE to announce $30bn climate-focused fund

Q&A with Absa: Trade finance’s role in a sustainable future

To talk about Absa’s sustainability plans, Trade Finance Global’s Brian Canup spoke with Msizi Khoza, Managing Executive ESG, Absa and Ovizikhungo Sicwetsha, Pan African Head, Short Term Finance, Absa. Read more →

Podcast | COP28 and beyond: ICC United Kingdom’s views on climate action and sustainable trade finance

At ICC United Kingdom’s annual conference, International Trade and Prosperity Week, TFG’s Deepesh Patel was joined by Chris Southworth, Secretary General at ICC United Kingdom, to discuss the importance for the business of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5° C and what the ICC is doing to support the sustainable transition. Read more →

VIDEO | From the boardroom: FCI reflections on receivables finance and factoring

In this video, Neal Harm, (incoming) Secretary General of FCI, sat down with Peter Mulroy, (outgoing) Secretary General of FCI and Daniela Bonzanini, (outgoing) FCI Chairwoman reflect on the organisation’s evolution, strategic initiatives, and the future of factoring. Read more →

VIDEO | Distributing trade finance assets – The new era

Co-presenters Deepesh Patel and Deutsche Bank’s Clarissa Dann co-hosted an interview on Trade Finance TV, exploring how the age-old techniques around distributing trade finance assets are changing to adapt to the current market dynamics. Read more →

Global trade shows resilience (for now) in the face of increased fragmentation: Standard Chartered Global Research special report

Global trade has shown remarkable robustness in the past few years, even under progressively difficult operational circumstances. While there’s a gradual downturn underway, there are still promising factors. Read more →

Surecomp announces CargoX as new partner on RIVO platform

Surecomp announced that CargoX is joining its RIVO™ platform. This partnership enhances Surecomp’s ecosystem, providing customers with centralised access to a range of top-tier electronic trade document solutions to enhance their digital trade finance operations. Read more →

COP28: UAE to announce $30bn climate-focused fund

The United Arab Emirates is set to unveil a new climate-focused investment fund worth $30 billion at the upcoming COP28, with support from major investors including BlackRock, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Read more →

TFG Weekly Trade Briefing, 27th November 2023

  • Three keys to enhance African trade potential in the digital age  
  • Seizing the COP28 moment: Top strategies for trade finance’s path to net zero
  • TFG launches Women in Trade, Treasury & Payments 2024 campaign
  • Video | UNIDROIT’s Model Law on Factoring and IFC’s Knowledge Guide in Marrakech
  • London: UK’s trade engine from the Roman era to the modern day
  • European Parliament approves of new EU-New Zealand trade deal
  • UK and South Korea start talks on new trade deal
  • COP28: Germany and Chile to form climate club to enhance green transition in developing countries

Three keys to enhance African trade potential in the digital age 

Europe remains one of the most important continents for African trade, but recent years have seen a decline relative to other regions, with a notable uptick in flows from China and MEA regions. Read more →

Seizing the COP28 moment: Top strategies for trade finance’s path to net zero

Trade finance providers have a critical role to play in the low-carbon transition. Through their lending decisions, they hold massive influence in some of the most carbon-intensive companies and supply chains, and they can use this leverage to push for much-needed progress on climate. Read more →

TFG launches Women in Trade, Treasury & Payments 2024 campaign

London, United Kingdom – Trade Finance Global (TFG) is thrilled to announce our Women in Trade, Treasury & Payments 2024 campaign, taking place on 7 March 2024, at the Lansdowne Club in London. Read more →

Video | UNIDROIT’s Model Law on Factoring and IFC’s Knowledge Guide in Marrakech

The FCI 55th Annual Meeting in Marrakech marked an important moment in receivables finance as the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) launched the Model Law on Factoring. Read more →

London: UK’s trade engine from the Roman era to the modern day

Trade has been the engine of economic growth in London for centuries. From the founding of the city by the Romans down to its modern, finance-focused incarnation, the capital has been defined by its interaction with other nations and peoples via trade. Read more →

European Parliament approves of new EU-New Zealand trade deal

Trade credit insurance has been pivotal in risk management for businesses, notably in mitigating the risk of unpaid invoices, a major concern affecting business continuity. Read more →

UK and South Korea start talks on new trade deal

The United Kingdom and South Korea are set to begin discussions on a new, comprehensive trade deal aimed at amplifying bilateral trade. Read more →

COP28: Germany and Chile to form climate club to enhance green transition in developing countries

Germany and Chile are set to establish a coalition of governments at the COP28 climate summit next week, aiming to support developing nations in investing in the decarbonisation of industries such as steel and cement production, according to a document seen by Reuters. Read more →

TFG Weekly Trade Briefing, 20th November 2023

  • Boosting profits and cutting emissions: How resource companies are embracing digital fuel management
  • Kuvera Resources v J.P. Morgan Chase: Certainty of payment vs risks of breaching sanctions under Letters of Credit
  • Three levels of ISO 20022 usage: Steps to harmonise trade finance transactions 
  • Monetary Authority of Singapore announces live trial of CBDCs in 2024
  • Marsh McLennan launches $50m facility for Ukrainian grain
  • ICISA releases top 2022 trade credit insurance highlights
  • EU considers extending steel and aluminium trade truce with US

Boosting profits and cutting emissions: How resource companies are embracing digital fuel management

Digital fuel management technology is making the mining industry less carbon-intensive and more profitable amid a mass shift to renewables-generated energy. Read more →

Kuvera Resources v J.P. Morgan Chase: Certainty of payment vs risks of breaching sanctions under Letters of Credit

The overreaching arc of sanctions regulations is threatening the certainty of payments guaranteed by the smooth functioning of letters of credit (LC) in international trade. This tension recently played out in the Singapore courts in a judgment handed down recently (Kuvera Resources Pte Ltd v JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. [2023] SGCA 28). Read more →

Three levels of ISO 20022 usage: Steps to harmonise trade finance transactions

The ISO 20022 format is a set of data and messaging that is integrated into an instant payment or any other cross-border transaction. Read more →

Monetary Authority of Singapore announces live trial of CBDCs in 2024

According to Ravi Menon, the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) managing director, Singapore is set to trial the live issue and utilisation of wholesale central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in 2024. Read more →

Marsh McLennan launches $50m facility for Ukrainian grain

In collaboration with the Ukrainian government, Ukreximbank, Ukrgasbank, and DZ Bank, Marsh McLennan has announced Unity, a new insurance facility designed to offer cost-effective insurance for exporting grain and other essential food supplies from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Read more →

ICISA releases top 2022 trade credit insurance highlights

Trade credit insurance has been pivotal in risk management for businesses, notably in mitigating the risk of unpaid invoices, a major concern affecting business continuity. Read more →

EU considers extending steel and aluminium trade truce with US

The European Union is considering extending its current truce with the US concerning steel and aluminium trade. Read more →

TFG Weekly Trade Briefing, 13th November 2023

  • 14 key trade documents and data elements for cross-border trade: Inside the ICC’s KTDDE report
  • Video: Originate-to-distribute, the end of balance sheet lending?
  • New report: ICC United Kingdom releases 2023 sustainability toolkit
  • Looking to Beijing 2024: TFG’s 6 key takeaways from Sibos 2023
  • Video | The evolving landscape of global trade asset and risk distribution
  • ITFA releases 2023 Addendum to the Digital Negotiable Instruments Handbook
  • OPEC Fund announces $21m loan for Rwanda water project
  • Report: Despite sustainable pledges, only 4% of companies meet climate guidelines

14 key trade documents and data elements for cross-border trade: Inside the ICC’s KTDDE report

The ICC DSI released their 2023 Key Trade Documents and Data Elements (KTDDE) report. The report outlines 14 key trade documents, going into depth on the definitions, purpose, and legal frameworks. Read more →

Video: Originate-to-distribute, the end of balance sheet lending?

Originally designed as a risk management tool among banks, trade asset distribution has now transformed into an indispensable means for capital and liquidity optimisation, inviting a broad spectrum of non-bank investors. Read more →

New report: ICC United Kingdom releases 2023 sustainability toolkit

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) United Kingdom launched a Sustainability Toolkit, designed to guide businesses in embedding sustainable practices within their global value chains. Read more →

Looking to Beijing 2024: TFG’s 6 key takeaways from Sibos 2023

Trade Finance Global (TFG) was at the heart of these conversations, offering a unique and insightful perspective on the future of trade finance. After some time to reflect, here are our top takeaways from the jam-packed conference. Read more →

Video | The evolving landscape of global trade asset and risk distribution

At the ITFA conference in Abu Dhabi, Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke with Khilola Turaeva, the Head of Trade Risk Distribution for GTS EMEA at Bank of America to speak about the world of global trade asset and risk distribution. Read more →

ITFA releases 2023 Addendum to the Digital Negotiable Instruments Handbook

The International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA) has released an addendum to its Digital Negotiable Instruments (DNI) Handbook. Read more →

OPEC Fund announces $21m loan for Rwanda water project

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) announced a $21 million loan to support a sustainable water supply project in Rwanda. Read more →

Report: Despite sustainable pledges, only 4% of companies meet climate guidelines

A recent report has revealed that out of the 2,000 largest publicly traded companies, half have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by the middle of the century. Read more →