Paris, 7 February 2017 – Experts and leading figures from the trade finance industry are set to discuss the trends, hurdles and prospects within the trade finance landscape at one of the most important events on the 2017 banking calendar: the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Banking Commission Annual Meeting.
Registration is now open for the Banking commission’s flagship event, being held for the first time in Jakarta, Indonesia from 3-6 April 2017.
As the ICC Banking Commission’s flagship event, the Annual Meeting will offer unparalleled networking opportunities, converging over 500 trade experts, banking professionals, business leaders, lawyers and government officials from over 65 countries – all under one roof at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Under the theme “The Future of Trade Finance: Traditional, Technological, and Transformational”, the event will feature over 60 distinguished keynote and panel speakers in a series of informative and interactive plenary and breakout sessions, as well as roundtable discussions addressing global challenges and financing trends. Keynote speakers include Mari Pangestu, Former Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Steven Beck, Head of Trade Finance, Asian Development Bank, and Daniel Schmand, Chair, ICC Banking Commission.
The panel topics and breakout sessions will cover topics including: Rulemaking in Trade; Trade Flows, Corridors and Supply Chains; BlockChain and Distributed Ledgers; and even CEO perspectives on Trade, Economic Development and Growth.
“With trade projected to grow at a mere 1.7% this year, we need to ensure that we are doing everything within our power to enhance the supply of trade finance into the real economy. The ICC Banking Commission has a vital role to play in facilitating the supply of trade finance and informing associated regulatory discussions,” said ICC Secretary General John Danilovich. “The Annual Meeting is an excellent opportunity to bring together leading experts in trade finance to shape the trade finance landscape for the benefit of businesses and consumers across the world.”
With the participation of key industry leaders and senior executives from international organisations, a central focus of the 2017 Annual Meeting will be digitisation of trade and trade finance practice, aiming to advance discussion on the rules, standards and practices of trade finance, and how it can support the growth of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
Also taking a closer look at trade finance in Indonesia and south-east Asia, the Annual Meeting will explore the significance of multilateralism and the state of trade negotiations in Asia-Pacific – detailing the implications and opportunities provided by the Trans-Pacific Partnership, in particular.
“We are delighted to be holding the Annual meeting for the first time ever in Jakarta – a significant trade hub which continues to grow as an importer and exporter,” said Daniel Schmand, Chair of the ICC Banking Commission. “Indonesia and south-east Asia present myriad opportunities for the trade finance industry, particularly following investments in trade infrastructure and associated services. Exploring and understanding the nature of trade and supply chains in the region and their importance for the global business community will be a key focus of the Annual Meeting.”
ICC Banking Commission task forces and working groups will also meet to discuss technical areas related to bank guarantees, risk mitigation, supply chain finance, factoring, forfaiting, legal issues and regulation.
Register now to participate in the Annual Meeting.