World Trade Symposium

Grand Hyatt, New York

6th – 7th November, 2019

8:00 am – 4:55pm

Trade Finance Global is delighted to announce a Media Partnership with Finastra and The Economist at the World Trade Symposium, this November, in New York.

Open Trade in an Uncertain World

Global trade is in a state of upheaval, driven by protectionism, ever-increasing regulations and outdated trading systems. Technology is disrupting trade like never before, making processes more efficient and inclusive, breaking down barriers and opening new markets. These present new challenges—and new opportunities.

The World Trade Symposium will convene business leaders, technology innovators, policymakers, thought leaders and economists to analyse these issues and suggest solutions and outcomes. What is needed to drive open trade for the benefit of all involved?

Meet the World Trade Board

The World Trade Board, initiated by Finastra, is made up of global leaders, innovative thinkers, industry influencers and subject matter experts from the different corners of trade, finance and commerce. The members are the co-creators of an organisation that has the objective of shaping the future and of being an enabling force for global trade, inclusion and prosperity. The Board shares a common vision which is a collaborative, connected, inclusive trade and finance network enabled by the latest business technologies, allowing the world to prosper. The Board, together with Finastra, is the driving force behind the annual World Trade Symposium and manages a number of working groups and programs to turn its vision into reality.

Conference Highlights

The Trump effect—assessing the impact of the US president’s policies on global trade
To what extent have President Donald Trump’s trade policies affected trade flows? How permanent will their effects be? How are companies and governments adapting to find fresh opportunities in the new landscape?

Interview: China and the world—a changing relationship?
After years of expectations that China’s markets are opening up, relations between the world’s second-biggest economy and the West have taken a new turn, with some countries adopting a tougher stance. Where will Sino-foreign relationships go from here? Are the recent tensions a blip, or do they herald a new, more combative era? How can companies and service-providers navigate this new landscape to deliver for clients, regardless of geopolitical changes? How will China’s latest iteration of its Belt and Road Initiative impact global trade?

Bridging the new networks of trade
Open platforms and digital islands: how and where is technology closing the gap between physical and financial supply chains? How are new technologies along the trade value chain—such as digital trade finance, open APIs, the internet of things, artificial intelligence and distributed ledgers—improving efficiencies and driving change? What problems is technology struggling to solve, where are the barriers to adoption, and what is being done to address them?

Panel discussion: The future of digital platforms for open trade
New technologies are transforming the end-to-end trade lifecycle, from production to finance and logistics. What digital technologies are having the greatest impact, and how will they continue to be adopted? When will we see a universal trade network? How are banking platforms harnessing new trade technologies, and how ready are corporates, logistics-providers and governments to capitalise on the opportunity?

In conversation: Trade in the era of policy uncertainty and new technologies
Is there still a development path through trade and global values in light of trade policy uncertainty and new technologies? Although trade bounced back after the global financial crisis of 2008, the high growth rates of the 1990s and 2000s have remained elusive. There are many reasons for this shift, but one is that trade reform has languished and in some cases is even being reversed. There is also a potential threat from new technologies, like automation and 3D printing, that could replace trade with domestic production. Going forward, what policies are most important for countries to pursue trade and growth? How can countries cooperate more closely in traditional areas, like tariffs and subsidies? Does cooperation need to move into new areas like e-commerce and data protection?

Photos & Gallery