tradeXplain

Course Review: Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS)

The ICC Academy has launched a new certification programme titled “Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy”. I recently completed the course and thought I’d share my takeaways in this brief post. As a practitioner in the field of digital trade finance innovation, I’m hoping my perspective may help you assess whether the course would be useful to you as well.

Going Digital: How data is changing trade and influencing power politics

“In today’s information age, models no longer need to make assumptions about how the world looks; policymakers can use real-time data. The tools are now available to answer the question: “Who trades what with whom?”. Data will transform how to formulate policy, assess the impact of the changing trade landscape, and how banks finance trade.”

Dr Rebecca Harding is an independent economist specialising in trade and trade finance and CEO of Coriolis Technologies, providing data as a service to the trade and trade finance space.  In this interview, Rebecca explains how the role of data is influencing trade policy and unlocking new opportunities for trade financiers.

Trade Barriers: How connecting lenders and educating trade practitioners can help close the trade finance gap

“Our mantra is ‘trade finance without barriers’ – providing access to information, education and finance, helping to close down the oft-cited $1.5 trillion USD trade finance gap.”

Trade Finance Global is a platform which assists companies to access trade and receivables finance facilities through 270+ banks, funds and alternative finance houses. Also providing educational insights and guides, the organisation aims to help close the oft-cited $1.5 trillion trade finance gap. Mark Abrams, Trade Finance Director, and Deepesh Patel, Partnerships & Marketing Director, spoke to tradeXplain about their work at TFG, the trade finance gap, blockchain, and their predictions for 2020.

The WTO and Blockchain: Why the world’s premier trade organisation is exploring blockchain technology

Emmanuelle Ganne is Senior Analyst in the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO) where she leads the organisation’s work on blockchain. Her recently published book “Can Blockchain Revolutionize International Trade?” argues that blockchain technology has the potential to break the various silos that exist between parties involved in cross-border transactions, but that standardisation and cooperation are necessary to solve challenging technical, interoperability, and legal issues.

In this interview, Emmanuelle explains the role of the WTO, her work on blockchain, and the technology’s potential to transform trade.

Fintech: The effects of digitisation on trade

Fintech is changing trade finance — finally. We spoke to André Casterman and Christoph Gugelmann about the effects of digitisation, which companies are driving the changes, and how young professionals should position themselves to benefit from new opportunities.