Trade Finance Distribution Initiative Podcast

In this episode of the Trade Finance Distribution Initiative Podcast, host Doris Kononowicz speaks with Ali Amirliravi, CEO and Founder of $SRC Ecosystem, a pioneering platform reshaping trade finance infrastructure across emerging markets, especially along the Silk Road corridor.In this conversation: How AI-driven onboarding and real-time risk assessment are transforming SME access to trade finance What tokenisation and stablecoin settlement mean for receivables and cross-border liquidity How digital twin technology enhances supply chain traceability Bridging TradFi and DeFi while remaining compliant with global standards like URDTT and MLETR What $SRC’s role in TFDi means for market collaboration

In this episode of the Trade Finance Distribution Initiative Podcast, we sit down with Eduard Oboimov, CEO and Co-founder of eTEU, to explore how digital documentation and blockchain are redefining global trade finance. From their recent pilot with Singapore’s IMDA and the XDC Network, to leveraging electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs) as collateral for trade finance, Eduard shares insights into: Blockchain’s role in secure, tamper-proof document exchange Compliance with global standards like MLETR and URDTT Connecting SMEs to decentralized liquidity pools Real-world learnings from live transactions (e.g., Metal Holding) This conversation offers a window into how eTEU is driving access, efficiency, and trust in a $30 trillion trade ecosystem.Learn more: https://www.eteu.co Follow TFD Initiative for more conversations on digital trade transformation.#TradeFinance #eTEU #Blockchain #DigitalTradeDocuments #eBL #SupplyChainFinance #TFDInitiative

The trade finance industry is undergoing a digital transformation, but legal and regulatory hurdles remain. In this episode of the TFD Initiative Podcast, Professor Sarah Green, Head of Digital Assets & Trade Finance at D2 Legal Technology, joins host Doris Kononowicz to explore the legal frameworks enabling smart contracts, digital negotiable instruments, and tokenised trade assets. With 80% of trade finance transactions still paper-based in a $5 trillion market, digital innovation is crucial. But is the legal world ready?

In this episode of the Trade Finance Distribution Initiative Podcast, host Doris Kononowicz sits down with Baihas Baghdadi, CEO of Trade and Working Capital (TWC), to discuss how TWC is transforming trade finance for mid-sized businesses.Baihas shares insights on:- TWC's founding story and mission to bridge trade finance gaps.- Challenges faced by SMEs in accessing funding. -The company’s innovative approach to complementing banks through faster, tailored financing solutions.- Risk management strategies and the role of institutional investors.- TWC's recent expansion into the U.S. market and its vision for the future of trade finance.Don't miss this deep dive into the evolving landscape of trade finance, the importance of technology as an enabler, and TWC's pivotal role in driving growth and accessibility for businesses worldwide.📌 Stay connected to the latest in trade finance innovation. Subscribe for more inspiring discussions.

"In this episode, Doris Kononowicz sits down with Vikas Jha, CEO of Finneva, as he discusses the company's founding vision and its mission to revolutionize trade finance. He delves into the unique challenges faced by SMEs in accessing financing and how Finneva's innovative solutions are bridging the trade finance gap. Vikas also shares his perspective on industry trends, including digitalization and sustainability, and outlines Finneva's future plans to lead in the evolving trade finance landscape.🔑 Discover:✔️ The story behind Finneva’s founding and its unique approach to trade finance✔️ How Finneva supports SMEs in navigating trade complexities and accessing financing✔️ The role of technology in addressing risk, compliance, and fraud prevention✔️ Key trends like blockchain, AI, and sustainability shaping the industryLearn how Finneva is bridging the $1.7 trillion trade finance gap and transforming the global trade ecosystem.📌 Subscribe for more insights into the future of trade finance!Join the TFDi: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/join

In this episode, we sit down with Ernesto Vila, Founder and CEO of Tech Cargo, the logistics company redefining freight forwarding with technology. Discover the unique story behind Tech Cargo’s founding, the pivotal role technology plays in automating processes, and how they help SMEs access trade finance solutions seamlessly integrated with logistics.We also dive into Tech Cargo's partnerships with financial institutions, their commitment to sustainability, and how they tackle global trade regulations using innovative digital solutions. Looking ahead, explore the future trends in logistics and trade finance that Tech Cargo is helping shape.If you're curious about how logistics and trade finance can evolve together or how Tech Cargo is creating a resilient, tech-driven supply chain, this episode is for you!

Welcome to the Trade Finance Distribution Initiative podcast!In this episode, we spotlight Invoice Mate, a game-changing member of the TFDI community. Hear ChiefMate Muhammad Salman Anjum delve into how this innovative platform is reshaping trade finance by:Enhancing transparency and efficiency in invoicing.Supporting the evolution of trade finance into a fully investible asset class.Addressing key challenges faced by stakeholders in the global trade finance ecosystem.Discover the transformative potential of Invoice Mate and what’s next for trade finance stakeholders.

In this episode, host Doris Kononowicz sits down with Christoph Gugelmann, CEO of Tradeteq, to explore how Tradeteq is revolutionising trade finance. With insights into trade receivables securitisation, asset-backed financing, and strategies for closing the trade finance gap, Christoph sheds light on what’s next for the industry. Plus, he previews Tradeteq’s live demo at the Trade Finance Investor Day, highlighting how the platform empowers institutional investors and supports SME liquidity.The Trade Finance Investor Day 2024 will be holding on the 11th and 12th of November in London.

In this episode, host Doris Kononowicz interviews Amparo Garcia Flores, General Manager of Securitize Europe, to discuss how digital securities are transforming capital raising and investment opportunities. As a speaker at the 2024 Trade Finance Investor Day, Amparo offers a preview of her panel on tokenizing real-world assets and its groundbreaking potential for the trade finance ecosystem.The Trade Finance Investor Day takes place on the 11th and 12th November at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane in London. The conference will focus on the theme, 'unlocking asset-backed securitisation' and will feature conversations around how credit insurers and development banks fit into ABS structures.A limited number of early bird tickets are now on sale: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/the-2024-trade-finance-investor-day

Nick Stainthorpe of Reed Smith discusses why the Investor Day is such a critical event and what he hopes to share when he takes to the stage this year.The Trade Finance Investor Day takes place on the 10th and 11th November at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane in London. The conference will focus on the theme, 'unlocking asset-backed securitisation' and will feature conversations around how credit insurers and development banks fit into ABS structures.A limited number of early bird tickets are now on sale: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/the-2024-trade-finance-investor-day

Moritz Hill from Emerald Capital Group, discusses his excitement in joining this year's Investor Day. He discusses the work to be done in order to bring technology and assets closer to deliver better trade finance solutions.The Trade Finance Investor Day takes place on the 10th and 11th November at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane in London. The conference will focus on the theme, 'unlocking asset-backed securitisation' and will feature conversations around how credit insurers and development banks fit into ABS structures.A limited number of early bird tickets are now on sale: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/the-2024-trade-finance-investor-day

Pranay Srinivasan from Manufactured, discusses what he's going to be speaking around at this year's Investor Day. We discuss how their technology offers security for trade finance assets and how SMB's are a crucial aspect of the industry. The Trade Finance Investor Day takes place on the 10th and 11th November at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane in London. The conference will focus on the theme, 'unlocking asset-backed securitisation' and will feature conversations around how credit insurers and development banks fit into ABS structures.A limited number of early bird tickets are now on sale: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/the-2024-trade-finance-investor-day

Richard Wulff from ICISA, discusses joining this year's Investor Day. We discuss the use of AI with underwriters, the biggest challenges currently facing the credit insurance and surety sectors, and how is ICISA working to address them. The Trade Finance Investor Day takes place on the 10th and 11th November at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane in London. The conference will focus on the theme, 'unlocking asset-backed securitisation' and will feature conversations around how credit insurers and development banks fit into ABS structures.A limited number of early bird tickets are now on sale: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/the-2024-trade-finance-investor-day

Billy Sebell from XDC Foundation, this year's platinum partner for the Investor day talks about the excitement around being part of the Investor Day and how it's creating more opportunities in the Trade Finance industry.The Trade Finance Investor Day takes place on the 10th and 11th November at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane in London. The conference will focus on 'unlocking asset-backed securitisation'. A limited number of early bird tickets are now on sale: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/the-2024-trade-finance-investor-day

In our latest podcast, we speak to Paul Landless who's Partner in Derivatives & Structured Products at Clifford Chance. https://www.cliffordchance.com/Clifford Chance is one of the world’s largest law firms, headquartered in London. It has world-class resources covering 32 major financial centres worldwide.In this podcast, we discuss:- How Clifford Chance helps new entrants in trade such as SME-focused non-bank lenders.- Whether institutional investors such pensions funds and family offices rely on Clifford Chance legal guidance in trade and working capital finance.- The next big legal developments in trade finance.- Whether he sees securitisation acting as a useful bridge between banking and capital markets.- How tokenisation can support the industry.- And, as co-head of the firm's global Tech Group, Paul tells us what this world looks like at the moment, and what’s exciting him?

In our latest podcast, we speak to Idriss Al Rifai, the co-founder and CEO of Flow48. https://www.flow48.com/Flow 48 is a FinTech in the Gulf Region and South Africa. It offers SME financing enabling growth by transforming future revenues into up-front capital through both invoice-based financing and revenue-based financing.Idriss has a very colourful background... he used to be a professional basketball player and then joined the Special Forces. Then he did an MBA which kicked-off his love of startups.In this episode, we discuss, amongst other things, the role technology plays in his company and how AI is changing things.

In our latest podcast, we speak to Steve Bendit from Securitize. https://securitize.io/ Securitize is a platform enabling regulation-compliant tokenisation of security. It also delivers end-to-end tokenisation of any fund, company, or asset. Unlocking alternative assets with a digital platform for issuing and trading digital asset securities.In this month’s episode, we discuss:  the tokenisation of real-world assets,  a recent product launch for the Securitize team,  use cases for adopting digital assets,  how US regulators are adapting to this new technology,  what are ‘Security Token Offerings’ (STOs),  and what lies on the horizon.  Join the TFD Initiative: www.tradefinancedistribution.com

In our latest podcast, Bob Ejodame, Vice President of Capital Markets at INX, tells us about his lightbulb moment when he first heard about what INX was doing. In this month’s episode, we discover everything you need to know about INX which is a US regulated hub for cryptocurrencies & security tokens for trading and investing in digital assets. https://www.inx.co/ Join the TFD Initiative: www.tradefinancedistribution.com

In our latest podcast we catch up with Emerald Capital, an alternative lender specialising in trade finance solutions. Its focus is on short-term financing on a revolving basis, priding themselves on making quick and flexible lending decisions to help grow their clients’ businesses.In this month’s episode, Director, Moritz Hill, discusses the evolution of the company and how it grew out of the pandemic, AI applications, and why Emerald Capital decided to sponsor the Trade Finance Investor Day.Join the TFD Initiative: tradefinancedistribution.com

The TFDi’s latest podcast is out and this month it’s our chance to speak to Timothée Bloch, the Co-Founder at A&T Alpha Credit. A&T Alpha credit is based in Geneva and specialises in structured financing for SMEs, with a core expertise in structuring private debt products aimed at financing working capital needs. The company’s aim, ‘to facilitate the direct allocation of liquidity towards real economy financing - when traditional lenders no longer fulfil their mission’.Join the TFDi: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com

In our latest podcast we speak to one of the latest members of the TFDi, Atlendis.Alexis Masseron is the CEO of Atlendis which enables users to lend digital assets to real-world businesses on-chain, filling the gap that traditional finance has not been able to cover. Leveraging blockchain technology and open banking.Join the TFDi: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com

In our latest podcast we speak to one of the latest members of the TFDi, Almila Arikan Sarbanoglu. She is Director, Working Capital - Receivables Finance at Kyriba.Kyriba is a leader in cloud treasury and finance solutions, delivering mission-critical capabilities for cash and risk management, payments and working capital solutions.More than 2,000 clients worldwide rely on Kyriba to see, protect and grow their liquidity.Join the TFDi: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/

Our latest podcast is now live where we’ve been discussing the impact of the Electronic Trade Documents Act, amongst other things.    Richard Fossett is the CEO and Founder of TradeRiver. The company is one of the most recent to become a member of the TFDi. TradeRiver is an alternative finance provider that has delivered more than £380m of Working Capital to SMEs in the UK... processing more than 7,000 individual client payments and has more than 1000 suppliers registered in 45 countries.   We even talk about Richard’s fascinating previous career of running hotels in the Middle East.Join the TFDi: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/

Our latest guest on the TFDi podcast is Ernesto Vila, the CEO of AP Trade Finance. APTF is a leading provider of innovative trade finance solutions for SMEs targeting those which are looking to expand their business operations on an international scale. The company’s become the latest member of the TFDi. Ernesto discusses APTF’s use of technology, blockchain and AI. Join the TFDi: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/

We’ve been lucky enough to catch up with the CEO of Vayana TradeXchange for our latest TFDi podcast. Kaylan Basu heads up the Mumbai-based operation which connects exporters, importers and financiers globally through a digital platform for trade finance. It was also great to meet him in person at the Trade Finance Investor Day. It’s as Vanaya TradeXchange has just announced a new partnership with another TFDi member, Tradeteq. In this video clip from the podcast, Kaylan tells us how excited he is about the possibilities this will bring.Join the TFDi: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/Vayana TradeXchange: https://vayanatradexchange.com/

Cláudia Dos Santos, Director, Trade and Working Capital Sales, Lloyds Bank Commercial banking, is one of the 23 high-profile names appearing at The Grove Hotel in less than two weeks.Her session is titled: ‘The Electronic Trade Documents Act, as seen by a distribution expert’.There are now just a few tickets left for our big event, just outside London, on the 19th and 20th October. Click on ‘buy tickets’ if you want to secure one of the last seats in the room: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

Professor Sarah Green, one of the high-profile speakers at the Trade Finance Investor Day, has been giving us a preview of her talk with digital trade policies high on the conference’s agenda.Sarah, Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law from the Law Commission of England and Wales, has been heavily involved in the creation of the Electronic Trade Documents Act, the new law that means paper documentation will no longer be needed for international transactions.All 23 speakers have now been announced for the Investor Day which takes place at the Grove Hotel, just outside London, on the 19th and 20th October 2023.More than 100 attendees are now registered, make sure you get one of the final seats in the room – click on ‘buy tickets’ here: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

Sean Edwards, says that Digital Negotiable Instruments will definitely be on his list of talking points at the Trade Finance Investor Day.   Sean, the Chairman of ITFA, will be one of the key speakers at next month’s event, with a presentation on ITFA’s roadmap for institutional investors. The Trade Finance Investor Day has more than 20 speakers lined-up for the 19th and 20th October at the Grove Golf and Country Club, just outside London. There are a limited number of tickets available, and time is running out. Book your place today: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

The TFDi’s CEO, André Casterman, gives an update on how preparations for next month’s big event are going… the Trade Finance Investor Day takes place on the 19th and 20th October at the Grove Hotel, just outside London.The conference next month will focus on alternative lenders and institutional investors, analysing breakthroughs in both origination and distribution spaces. More than 20 speakers have already been announced.Tickets are still available. Get yours today: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

Mercore Group is the latest organisation to join the Trade Finance Distribution Initiative. Anthony Wadsworth-Hill, COO of Mercore Group, has been speaking to our podcast about how he’s looking forward to the Trade Finance Investor Day.‍Mercore is a non-bank financial institution specialising in the provision of trade finance to SMEs and customers with trade flows involving developing/emerging markets. Anthony will be speaking at next month’s big event, the Trade Finance Investor Day. He’ll be appearing on the Originator Panel on the 19th and 20th October at the Grove Golf and Spa resort, just outside London.For tickets, location, and a list of all the other speakers on the day, head to our event website: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023 This series is also available as a podcast.

In our latest mini podcast, Deutsche Bank’s Global Head of Trade Financing and Lending tells us why he’s looking forward to our Investor Day conference.Oliver Resovac will be speaking at the Trade Finance Investor Day at the Grove Hotel, just outside London, on the 19th and 20th October. Oliver oversees more than five thousand employees globally, approximately 1.8billion Euros of revenues and 110 billion Euros of assets. He’ll be appearing on our Originator Panel – alongside Dylan Martin (Teybridge) Capital, Anthony Wadsworth-Hill (Mercore). A limited number tickets are on sale now, get yours before they’re all gone: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

Dylan Martin, CEO of Teybridge Capital Europe will be speaking as a part of our Originator Panel at Trade Finance Investor Day. In our two-day event just outside London, we’ll reveal the latest fintech innovations, banking-fintech partnerships and the rise of trade finance as an investable asset class. Don't miss this five-star experience at The Grove Golf and Country Club, Hertfordshire on the 19th and 20th October 2023. Register for your ticket now: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

Chris Southworth, Secretary General, ICC United Kingdom, has been speaking to us about the Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA) ahead of his appearance at our Trade Finance Investor Day.Chris is a leading international expert on creating modern digital trade ecosystems, and is also an independent adviser to the UK government on the digitisation of trade. Over the last few years he’s been heavily involved with getting ETDA passed into law. Last month that finally happened and it’s now promising to transform the way international trade is carried out. Chris will be joining us at The Grove Golf and Country Club on the 19th and 20th of October to give us his insights on ‘the legal revolution in trade financing and digital assets’. Don’t miss out. Register for your tickets today: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

Teybridge Capital is the TFDi’s 70th member. Dylan Martin, its European CEO, speaks to us about how the company differentiates itself in the global trade space.Teybridge Capital is a non-bank originator specialising in supply chain finance as well as structured trade and commodity finance, amongst other services.Dylan is also one of the many names to be speaking at our Trade Finance Investor Day. He’s on our Originator Panel at the event at the Grove golf and country club, just outside London, on the 19th and 20th October. For tickets, location, and a list of all the other speakers on the day, head to our event website: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023

Salman Khan, a Senior Portfolio manager at Santander Alternative Investments, tells us why this asset class is so important. Salman specialises in Global Trade Finance investments and is one of the many names to be speaking at the Trade Finance Investor Day. He will be appearing on the Investor Panel at the conference in Hertfordshire to discuss ‘The Perfect Deal’.Speaking to us from Madrid, he says the event will be an unmissable networking opportunity. Tickets are now on sale for the two-day event at the five-star Grove golf and spa resort, just outside London, on the 19th and 20th October.  Tickets, the full list of speakers, dates and location can be found here: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023 

André Casterman, the CEO of the TFDi, highlights what makes October’s Trade Finance Investor Day ‘the event with a difference’. André says the two-day conference, at The Grove Golf and Country Club, will bring ‘new players onto the stage’. There will be two major panels, a keynote, Power Pitch sessions, testimonials, and of course the opportunity for networking at the five-star resort in Hertfordshire on October 19th and 20th.Don’t miss out, register for your ticket now: https://www.tradefinancedistribution.com/events/trade-finance-investor-day-2023 

Episode 27 is an exciting conversation with Kountable's Founder and CEO, Chris Hale. In this episode we discuss how Kountable enables SME's to deliver sustainable development and the areas they are focusing on as a business within the sector.

Episode 26 is a solidly-packed chat with ANZ's Head of Trade and Supply Chain Product Solutions and Head of Trade Portfolio Management, Damian Kwok, as he talks about the dire need for liquidity in the market, ANZ's form of digitalisation through a DLT and their DNA as a trade finance bank.

Episode 25 of the TFD Initiative Podcast features the founder and CEO of vabble.io Pablo Terpolilli discussing Vabble's automation and legalisation of manual supply chain finance processes to offer better conditions for liquidity to flow.

TFD Initiative is delighted to speak with the CEO of ARC Ratings, Oliver Howard. Our conversation revolves around working with clients in trade finance and the nuanced processes of their ratings methodologies.

Episode 23 is a special feature from a Member of the House of Lords, Lord Chris Holmes of Richmond, who is a fierce advocate for digital technologies, fintechs and blockchain. We hear about his passion for sustainable trade finance methods like the ETD and a more inclusive finance market. 

We're kicking off 2023 with a brand new podcast from Surecomp's SVP Strategy, Digitisation and Business Development, Enno-Burghard Weitzel, as we delve into Surecomp's new business solution RIVO and why client needs form a core part of designing their technology. 

Our last podcast for 2022 features TFD Initiative's Chief executive André Casterman as he sits down with Doris Kononowicz to discuss how this year has seen a grown to the TFDi community, and some key milestones that were achieved.

TFDi Podcast episode 20 features the Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law at the Law Commission of England and Wales, Sarah Green, who shares first hand insight into how and why a bill such as the ETD was born, and the journey through the great thinking that constitutes what new digital asset laws should look like.

Episode 19 features CEO and Founder of SupplierPlus, Kaspar Kagu, as he sits down with Doris Kononowicz to discuss supply chain finance processes and the geographical edge SupplierPlus has, being a technology-enabled solution.

On this episode, we host TFDi founding member, co-founder and CFO at Tradeteq, Nils Behling, as we discuss the new TRADA Token on the XDC Network and how banks and FIs can connect, access and distribute illiquid assets through Tradeteq's innovative technology solution.

On this episode, our guest is Mark Hickey, Head of Working Capital Finance at Pemberton. We delve into the evolution of bank markets, technology and Pemberton’s growing portfolio in corporate credit. 

On this episode, our guest is George Nijborg, Senior Portfolio Manager at Aegon Asset Management. We discuss the use of trade finance in offering  products with attractive risk return profile.

In this episode, our guest is Mark Abrams, MD & Head of Trade and Receivables Finance at Trade Finance Global. We discuss TFG's position in the trade finance industry.

In this episode, our guest is John-Martin Ndawula, Associate VP, Financial Institutions and Trade Finance at Africa Finance Corporation. He dissects the role of AFC in providing instrumental infrastructure through trade finance distribution in Africa.