While trade finance has an essential role to play in supporting the global economy through the post-COVID recovery, many firms are still unable to access the finance they need. Fortunately, technology can help banks meet their customers’ trade finance needs – and with cloud-based solutions, the cost of a specialist system is no longer prohibitive for small and mid-sized banks, as Surecomp’s Enno-Burghard Weitzel and Andrew Coles explain.

In this fortnight’s Stages for Change interview, TXF’s Eavie Burnett speaks with Nedbank’s Mbali Kubheka on her growing career in export finance and the capacity it gives her to make real change

ESG was at the forefront of the discussion at the TXF Global Commodities event in Geneva. But it wasn’t just climate change and carbon neutrality on people’s minds. The ‘S’ portion of ESG is typically less focused on in the commodities world, despite having interesting implications for portfolio risk, and is gaining prominence.

Departures from parts of the trade credit and CPRI market – in particular by Zurich and QBE – have raised eyebrows as reduced capacity could make it harder for banks to secure a programme with a single insurer. What will be the impact, and can improved harmonisation of Basel-compliant documentation help bolster capacity?

Why are there still so few bridges between digital islands? And no ‘cars’ on the bridges that have been built? Michael Vrontamitis, advisor at Kountable and Subra Shankar, founder and principal at TOTTA look at why digital islands persist, and how they can be bridged. Do not ignore smaller businesses.