TFD Initiative

Can Regulation Help—or Hinder—SME Trade Finance? The global trade finance gap exceeds $2.5 trillion, with SMEs in emerging markets struggling the most. While regulation is essential, it often prevents banks from financing smaller businesses—not due to lack of interest, but due to structural capital constraints. In our latest Open Access interview, Idriss Al Rifai, Founder & CEO of Flow48, explores: ✅ How aggregated SME data is solving information asymmetry in lending. ✅ Why banks are unable to finance SMEs due to regulatory capital requirements. ✅ Why regulators must strike a balance—ensuring SME financing can drive economic growth rather than being stifled. SMEs account for 90% of global businesses and 50% of employment worldwide, yet they face disproportionate financing barriers. Bridging this gap is not just an economic necessity—it’s an investment opportunity. Is regulatory reform the key to unlocking SME financing? 🔗 Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eZFDxi-J #TradeFinance #SMEs #Regulation #Fintech #PrivateDebt #InstitutionalInvesting #EmergingMarkets #FinancialInclusion #OpenAccess

Can Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) Scale Trade Finance? The global trade finance gap exceeds $2.5 trillion, yet ABS remains an underutilised tool in bridging this shortfall. While ABS has successfully scaled mortgages, consumer credit, and auto loans, trade finance remains a sub scale product despite massive demand. In today's Open Access interview hear from Oliver Howard, Group CEO of ARC Ratings as he breaks down: 🎯 Why investor confidence in trade finance ABS remains low—and how to rebuild it. 🎯 How transparency, risk tranching, and better data availability can make trade finance an investable asset class. 🎯 Why emerging markets have the greatest financing need—but lack the data to attract investors. As the market evolves, ABS could become a crucial mechanism for mobilising institutional capital into trade finance. With better risk structuring and data transparency, the opportunity is enormous. Is the market ready to scale? 🔗 Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e6aS-Xqg #TradeFinance #ABS #Securitisation #PrivateDebt #StructuredCredit #ARCRatings #InstitutionalInvesting #FinancialMarkets #OpenAccess

How Regulatory Changes Are Creating New Trade Finance Opportunities – Insights from Reed Smith LLP’s Nick Stainthorpe The regulatory landscape is shifting, and with it, trade finance is becoming increasingly attractive for private credit investors. In our latest Open Access interview, Nick Stainthorpe, Partner at Reed Smith, breaks down: ✅ The impact of risk-weighted asset regulations on trade finance. ✅ Why trade finance faces fewer regulatory barriers than other asset classes. ✅ How tightening bank regulations are creating new private credit opportunities. As banks adjust to stricter capital requirements, private credit is filling the gap—bringing new liquidity to the multi-trillion-dollar trade finance market. What impact do you see regulatory changes having on your investment strategies? 🔗 Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/dVRe9Pzv #TradeFinance #PrivateCredit #Regulation #StructuredFinance #InstitutionalInvesting #ReedSmith #Fintech #OpenAccess

The community of non-bank lenders continues to grow around the world, and those new entrants represent in my view the most exciting developments in #tradefinance so far. Whilst they do generally focus on SME lending at either domestic or cross-border level, they are very specialised - which is the only path to success - by for instance embedding lending into logistics, or acting as adjacencies to bank lines. Those players mostly rely on third-party liquidity from capital markets, family offices and sometimes banks too. We are gathering them as part of TFD Initiative whose goals is to make the global trade and receivables asset classes (not just one!) as attractive and easily accessible as possible. Discover our 3 recent podcasts available on Youtube and Spotify: - Finneva by Vikas Jha: https://lnkd.in/eXh-CfqG - TRADE & WORKING CAPITAL by Baihas Baghdadi: https://lnkd.in/eBumeGiC - Tech Cargo, LLC. by Ernesto Vila: https://lnkd.in/e4YMDvm2 Do you represent a non-bank lender? Reach out and get the world to know you. TFD Initiative by André Casterman and Doris Kononowicz ITFA #Institutional #Investors

Bridging the Private Debt Liquidity Gap – Expert Insights from Monivolt’s Artem Poteshkin. The global private debt market is expanding rapidly, yet the funding gap continues to widen. At the same time, institutional investors continue to look out for new opportunities to deploy capital efficiently. In today's Open Access interview, Artem Poteshkin, Head of Capital Markets at Monivolt, discusses: 🎯 How fintech-driven platforms are connecting institutional borrowers with high-quality capital providers. 🎯 The rise of tokenisation—making SME financing more transparent and accessible. 🎯 Why supply chain finance is becoming a critical liquidity tool for businesses. The private debt market is projected to reach $2.8 trillion by 2028, yet SMEs still face major barriers to financing. Fintech solutions are now bridging this gap by improving origination, due diligence, and execution—enabling seamless capital transactions. How is your organisation adapting to this shift? 🔗 Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/enuciJaS #PrivateDebt #LiquiditySourcing #TradeFinance #AlternativeLending #Tokenisation #SupplyChainFinance #InstitutionalInvesting #Fintech #Monivolt

🚀 The future of trade finance is digital! In an exclusive interview, André Casterman, CEO of TFD Initiative, discusses how new technologies and policies are transforming the trade finance sector. He shares insights from last year's Trade Finance Investor Day, where banks and alternative lenders showcased their role in leveraging digital instruments and aligning with evolving regulations to bring liquidity to clients.  Key highlights: 🔹 The rise of electronic negotiable instruments and supply chain finance  🔹 Growing partnerships between banks and alternative lenders  🔹 The impact of regulatory developments on innovation  🔹 Increased interest from institutional investors in trade finance assets Watch: https://lnkd.in/eRRhpXzC As digitalisation accelerates, aligning technology with policy is crucial for scaling liquidity in this growing market. Trade finance is becoming more accessible and lucrative for institutional investors, with potential for higher yields. The trade finance market is seeing record growth, and institutional investment is key to its future expansion. #TradeFinance #DigitalInnovation #Fintech #SupplyChainFinance #Blockchain #InstitutionalInvestors #FinancialServices #Liquidity #TradeAssets #TFDInitiative

🌍 Navigating Trade Finance in a Complex Global Landscape – Insights from Richard Wulff 🌍 As global trade dynamics evolve with rising protectionism, sanctions, and ESG concerns, businesses face increasing challenges in managing risk. In today's Open Access interview, Richard Wulff, Executive Director at ICISA - International Credit Insurance & Surety Association, shares key insights on: ✅ The critical need for supply chain transparency and data granularity. ✅ How export controls and sanctions are reshaping trade credit insurance. ✅ The role of insurers in supporting economic growth through risk cover. With the changes in the political climate, particularly with the US, global exports face new complexities, and understanding trade finance risk is now more than ever crucial. 🔗 Watch now: https://lnkd.in/e2Qzsm3t André Casterman #TradeFinance #CreditInsurance #SupplyChainTransparency #RiskMitigation #ESG #ICISA #GlobalTrade

🎙 New Podcast Episode Alert! It's an engaging conversation with Baihas Baghdadi, CEO of TRADE & WORKING CAPITAL(TWC), as he joins TFDi host Doris Kononowicz to discuss how TWC is redefining trade finance for mid-sized businesses. A few highlights from the conversation include: 🌟 The founding story of TWC and its mission to bridge the trade finance gap. 🌟 How TWC complements banks with faster, tailored financing solutions. 🌟 Insights into risk management, institutional investor involvement, and overcoming industry challenges. 🌟 The role of technology as an enabler rather than a barrier. If you're passionate about innovation in trade finance and empowering SMEs, this episode is a must-listen: https://lnkd.in/edmYcmtY Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eJSahQY3 👉 Tune in and learn more about how TWC is shaping the future of trade finance! André Casterman #TradeFinance #SMEs #Innovation #FinTech #TWCFinance

Empowering Africa’s Trade with Isha Kasule 🌍 Despite Africa's immense trading potential, businesses face persistent financing challenges due to outdated lending models focused on collateral rather than trade transactions. In today's Open Access interview, Isha Kasule, CEO & Co-founder of Tradeable House Africa, shares how they are: 🤝 Facilitating trade through co-funding partnerships with African businesses. 💡 Addressing the continent’s trade finance knowledge gap. 🔓 Launching a dedicated trade finance unit to attract global partners and unlock opportunities. With over $81 billion in unmet trade finance demand, now is the time to act. 🔗 Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/ehHVMKWJ André Casterman #AfricaTrade #TradeFinance #EmergingMarkets #FinancialInclusion #InvestmentOpportunities #TradableHouseAfrica #SMEFinance

Unlocking Trillions in Trade Finance – Insights from Christoph Gugelmann Trade finance remains largely underrepresented in the $12+ trillion structured credit market, and Tradeteq is on a mission to change that. In our latest Open Access interview, Christoph Gugelmann, CEO & Co-founder at Tradeteq, discusses: ✅ The transition of trade finance into structured credit markets. ✅ How Tradeteq’s end-to-end technology is enabling scalable investment. ✅ Plans to build an investment management division to provide loss-absorbing capital. With the right strategies, trade finance can unlock trillions in untapped capital. 🔗 Watch now: https://lnkd.in/eaR-sTDK André Casterman #TradeFinance #StructuredCredit #PrivateDebt #Investments #Fintech #Tradeteq #FinancialInclusion #OpenAccess