TXF spoke with Preslav Raykov, global head of trading at Eleen Marine about the importance of risk controls in the present geopolitical environment as well as strategies for aligning stakeholders across commodity supply chains.

The fourth edition of the UN International Conference on Financing for Development at last recognised the role played by ECAs in development. Momentum is building around the blended finance model, even if discussions remain largely theoretical at this stage. The gap between development and trade is narrowing, but will emerging markets stand to benefit?

West African cocoa production has been in decline amid poor yields and falling demand. But the Africa Cocoa Exchange aims to return cocoa pricing power to Africa, improve traceability and open up new credit opportunities in a sector that remains largely unsustainable.