MANILA, PHILIPPINES (10 January 2017) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Academy recently signed an agreement to offer online training courses and accreditation programs on global trade and trade finance. The courses will be offered by ADB’s Trade Finance Program (TFP) using ICC Academy’s international training model and digital platform.
The first course will be available this February and subsequent courses will be rolled out during the first half of 2017. The initial phase will benefit 150 bank staff from approximately 80 TFP partner banks. The initial phase will offer 2 online Certification Programs — the Global Trade Certificate (GTC) and the Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP). Through this capacity-building initiative, the TFP enables its partner banks to provide better financial support to local export and import companies.
“The ADB Trade Finance Program is committed to providing partner banks with the knowledge required to give companies the best possible support to reach their potential through international trade,” said Steven Beck, head of trade finance at ADB.
The ICC Academy is the International Chamber of Commerce’s ground-breaking e-learning platform. The ICC Academy delivers online certification and professional development services to meet the educational needs of banks, corporates, and other organizations at the forefront of international trade.
“ICC Academy is proud that with ADB, we have taken a step forward to train and progress capabilities in developing countries. We are committed to work with ADB to fill the ever-changing skill gap,” said Daniel Kok, General Manager at ICC Academy.
The ADB TFP, backed by ADB’s AAA credit rating, provides guarantees and loans to over 200 partner banks to support trade, enabling more companies throughout Asia to engage in import and export activities. With dedicated trade finance specialists and a 24-hour response time, the program has established itself as a key partner in the international trade community, providing fast, reliable, and responsive support to fill gaps in the region’s most challenging markets.
TFP complements its financial support with a regular series of workshops and seminars to increase knowledge and expertise in trade finance products and operations, risk management, and fraud prevention.
Since 2009, TFP has supported more than 8,600 small and medium-sized businesses across developing Asia — through over 13,000 transactions valued at over $25.5 billion — in sectors ranging from commodities and capital goods, to medical supplies and consumer goods.
For more information, visit the TFP website: http://www.adb.org/tfp
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB is celebrating 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.