Issue 18

Cross-border payments can play a special role for people and businesses around the world. They allow us to send money to our loved ones, book a holiday of a lifetime, or start a business in another country. 

Over the last couple of years, we have seen an escalating development of digitalising trade. Fuelled by the obvious benefits, such as reduction of funding, courier, and administration costs, as well as the safety and speed of transferring trade documents digitally. 

Transitioning from documents to pixels, from cash to virtual payment gateways, and from local markets to international ones, the sweeping transformation of global trade into the digital world is redesigning the trade finance ecosystem. The alliance between ClearEye and J.P. Morgan represents the metamorphosis of the future of trade finance digitisation.

With the passing of the UK’s Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA), the digital trade world is changing. While this is welcomed news for the entire industry, it also means that new partnerships and innovations need to come to fruition.

A first for the industry, Trade Finance Global (TFG) has partnered with several major organisations in the trade, treasury, and payments space to come together and speak openly about an often overlooked yet invaluable segment in the industry: the LGBTQ+ community.

The financial landscape has undergone a seismic shift in recent years. From zero or negative interest rates to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the world has seen it all. Amidst this backdrop, the role of private credit has evolved significantly. 

To learn about this hidden, but vital aspect of finance, Trade Finance Global’s Brian Canup (BC) spoke to Veronica Fernandez (VF), Senior Vice President and Regional Head of Visa Commercial Solutions for North America at Visa.

For ages, correspondent banking has played a vital role in the global payments system. Through correspondent banking relationships, banks gain access to a diverse range of financial products across various jurisdictions enabling them to offer cross-border payment solutions and services to their customers. 

New! Issue 18 of Trade Finance Talks, “The Rise of Collaboration in a Divided World”, is out now!

In an era marked by technological advancement and rapid digitisation, the landscape of financial transactions has undergone a transformative shift. Traditional modes of payment, such as checks and physical currency, have given way to the convenience and efficiency of digital payments.

ADB’s flagship Trade Finance Gaps Survey returns for its eighth edition, confirming expectations that the global trade finance gap – unmet demand for trade financing – has worsened, reaching  $2.5 trillion, an increase of 47% since the last stock-taking which pegged the gap at $1.7 trillion in 2020. 

Sarah Murrow, CEO of Allianz Trade UK & Ireland, explains how trade credit insurance can help UK companies grow export revenues safely at a time of heightened credit risk.

Today, many exporters – large, medium, and small — struggle to secure the financing they need to compete internationally. Often, companies find themselves in a position where private financing alone is not an option.

In the wake of the pandemic, the global economy has seen a confluence of challenges, including geopolitical risks, interest rate changes, and commodity price fluctuations.

From payments, credit and lending, to trade and supply chain finance, the entire financial services industry is being disrupted. Regulatory requirements, industry standards and the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda have accelerated.