GTR Central & Eastern Europe - Trade and export finance conference

A big thank you to our incredible speakers, engaged participants, and generous sponsors for making GTR CEE 2024 a success! Your insights and support have shed valuable light on the trends, opportunities, and challenges that lie ahead for Central & Eastern Europe’s trade landscape. Today’s event covered a rich range of topics essential for navigating CEE’s evolving role as a trade and export hub: 🚀 Emerging Export Opportunities: With its strategic location and robust infrastructure, CEE is set to lead in connecting Europe, Central Asia, and beyond, exploring new markets from Sub-Saharan Africa to Asia Pacific. 💡 Sanctions & Compliance: Addressing the evolving regulatory framework, our experts shared strategies for managing compliance, AML/KYC processes, and innovative tech-led solutions to maintain credit lines amidst uncertainty. 🔗 Digital Finance Innovation: The rise of fintech in CEE is transforming access to capital, with new digital platforms, data tools, and digital-only providers enhancing the region’s trade finance ecosystem. 🌱 Financing Gaps & Trade Resilience: From flexible working capital solutions to bridging financing gaps for SMEs, the day emphasised the importance of adaptive finance strategies and collaborative public-private solutions for CEE. 🌾 Ukraine Reconstruction & Trade Corridors: We discussed the critical support needed for Ukraine’s recovery and how CEE’s infrastructure will underpin vital trade corridors across the Black Sea region. This year’s event highlighted the dynamic growth and resilience within CEE as it continues to shape the future of global trade. Thank you once again to everyone who joined us and contributed to the success of GTR CEE 2024! 📬 Coming soon: Post-event wrap-up email. 🤝 Want to connect with 2,000+ trade finance professionals? Check out the free GTR Directory: gtreview.com/directory 📰 Stay informed on #tradefinancenews with 4 free articles per month: gtreview.com/news 🚨 Subscribe for full access to our publications and more: gtreview.com/subscribe From all of us here at Global Trade Review (GTR), we thank you for your support and look forward to connecting with you again at another upcoming event 👉 gtreview.com/events #GTRCEE #CEEGrowth #GlobalTrade #TradeInnovation #ExportOpportunities #DigitalFinance

A special thank you to our event chair, Raphael Minder, Central Europe Correspondent at the Financial Times, for expertly guiding us through GTR CEE 2024 in #Vienna! 🎙️ Raphael's insights and engaging moderation brought immense value to our discussions, from exploring emerging trade corridors to addressing financing gaps and the digital evolution of trade finance in the CEE region. #GTRCEE #TradeFinance #CEE

At #GTRCEE in #Vienna, we wrapped up with an insightful plenary on “Changing Trade Flows and Seizing New Opportunities for Exporters”—exploring the CEE region's evolving role as a key export hub amidst shifting global trade dynamics. Our expert panel, including Will Day-Robinson (Tysers), Andy Romanov (Ukrgasbank), Markus Hoskovec (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG), and Filipe Pohlmann Gonzaga (Bryce SA), shared insights on: 🌐 Accessing new markets: How CEE exporters can expand to untapped destinations and compete with established players. 🏭 Leveraging CEE’s strengths: From a robust supply chain base to cost-effective manufacturing, the region’s unique advantages for exporters. 💳 Financing export growth: Exploring solutions like receivables financing and buyer credit to overcome banking costs and currency challenges. 🏦 Support from ECAs: The vital role of export credit agencies in navigating sovereign risk and financing hurdles in new markets. A huge thank you to our speakers for highlighting pathways to success in this dynamic trade environment. 🔗 For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the conversation using #GTRCEE. #ExportOpportunities #CEEExports #GlobalTradeExpansion #TradeFinance #ExportCredit

As with many other global markets, Europe has seen a flurry of #tradetech activity in recent times, with an expanding ecosystem of providers bringing innovative products, technologies and services to the market to meet a number of challenges, from meeting #ESG requirements to increased risks around financial crime to the often prohibitive costs associated with manual trade processes. At #GTRCEE in #Vienna, experts Dr Maria Mogilnaya (ITFA), Taavi Tamkivi (Salv), Juraj Kralik (Widen), and Cristian Ionescu (Instant Factoring) took the stage in a showcase-style session and explored how the #fintech sector is working collaboratively to find answers to a range of questions, from: 💻 Digital financing platforms: How these platforms simplify buyer-seller connections, unlock capital, and bring more diverse financing options to market. 📊 Data utilisation in fintech: Leveraging key industry data to drive more informed decision-making and streamline trade operations. 🔗 Emerging technologies: The potential of APIs, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), and AI to transform trade finance infrastructure. 📈 Rise of digital-only banks and non-bank providers: How new entrants are redefining competition in this fast-moving ecosystem. Thank you to our speakers for showcasing the impressive strides in fintech innovation that are shaping the future of trade. 🔗 For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the conversation using #GTRCEE. #FintechInnovation #TradeTech #DigitalFinance #APIsInTrade #CEEFinance

At GTR CEE in #Vienna, Eleonore Juliane Treu (ICC Austria), Yanying Li (UNCITRAL: United Nations Commission on International Trade Law), Tsolmon Bat-Erdene (Khan Bank), and Omer Guy (Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) essential insight on adapting to evolving regulatory landscapes and digital transformation in trade finance. The panel explored: 📜 Digital document innovation: How the shift to legally recognised digital trade documents is revolutionising trade processes across transport modes. 💼 Preparing for Basel III: What trade financiers need to know about capital, liquidity, and risk obligations under the updated Basel III regulations. 🔍 New opportunities in factoring: The evolving rules for factoring in CEE, expanding trade finance access for small businesses. 🔐 Mitigating counterparty risk: Strategies to secure credit availability and maintain liquidity as regulatory demands grow. Thank you to our expert panel for their insights into the regulatory shifts shaping the future of trade finance. 🔗 For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the discussion using #GTRCEE. #DigitalTrade #TradeFinanceRegulation #BaselIII #PaperlessTrade #CEEFinance

At #GTRCEE in #Vienna, our session on “Charting the Future for Export Credit: Capacity Needs and Long-Tenor Projects, Navigating Risk and Ukraine Reconstruction” brought forward key perspectives on the critical role of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) in the CEE region. As ECAs extend support from working capital provisions to political risk coverage, their involvement is pivotal for Ukraine’s reconstruction and bolstering infrastructure in neighbouring regions to secure trade flow through the Black Sea corridor. Our panel, featuring Lance Luo (BBC Monitoring), Petra Rauscher (Raiffeisen Bank International AG), Guillaume Simonnet (WTW), and Łukasz Kowalski (KUKE), covered essential insights on: 📈 #ECA strategies for long-term impact: How ECAs are leveraging financing and guarantees to support long-tenor projects in #Ukraine and beyond. 🌍 Managing commercial and #politicalrisk: The rising demand for #risk coverage amidst debt concerns and regional instability. 🤝 Public-private collaboration for Ukraine: Aligning credit and risk capacity for reconstruction, and ways sovereigns can help derisk investments. 🛡️ Private #insurance market’s role: Assessing private sector appetite for high-stakes projects and the ongoing challenges in securing necessary coverage. As CEE’s role in regional reconstruction grows, export credit continues to be a cornerstone of resilience and growth. For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the conversation with #GTRCEE. #ExportCredit #UkraineReconstruction #ECASupport #TradeResilience #BlackSeaTrade

At #GTRCEE in #Vienna, we turned our focus to "Emerging Corridors and a Stock-Take on CEE-Ukraine Commodity Flow"—an essential discussion as EU-Ukraine trade connections adapt amidst ongoing disruptions. Since the start of the #Ukrainewar disruption to #supplychain and #tradecorridor interlinkages has been significant, with the CEE region on the front foot as Europe-Ukraine trade relationships adapt and evolve. Exports to Ukraine from the EU have grown significantly since 2022, and as land border crossings become increasingly pivotal for EU-Ukraine trade, regional corporates and financiers continue to build new solutions for Ukrainian commodity trade.  In this keynote, Lance Luo (BBC Monitoring) provided an in-depth outlook on: 🌾 Energy and agri-food trade shifts: Examining the new trade corridors and Ukraine’s redirected trade flow through CEE. 🌍 CEE-Ukraine trade dynamics: How emerging relationships with transit nations like Poland and Hungary are shaping the future of commodity trade. 🚜 Supporting Ukrainian resilience: The evolving role of CEE corporates and financial institutions in fostering trade resilience and flexibility. Stay connected as we continue exploring how these emerging corridors are reshaping the trade landscape! For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the conversation with #GTRCEE. #CommodityTrade #EUUkraineTrade #CEETrade #GlobalTrade

Alex Gray (LIBF), Elitza Kavrakova (Raiffeisen Bank International AG), Anna Brod-Ohana (EBRD), Dr. Tobias Miarka (Coalition Greenwich (a division of CRISIL), and Tomasz Dyrda (EY), dived into a critical session on “Sanctions Compliance, Technological Solutions and Keeping Credit Lines Open" during GTR CEE in #Vienna. With sanctions targeting Russia reshaping the landscape for trade and finance across Europe and Central Asia, the session explored the challenges and strategies for effective compliance, credit facilitation, and managing the growing perception of risk in the region. These experts shared key insights into: 🛡️ Compliance and risk management: Lessons learned in managing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes to improve trade finance facilitation. 🔍 Detecting circumvention: How banks, shippers, and insurers have adapted to detect potential sanctions violations and mitigate risks. 💻 Tech-led compliance: Innovations in digital tools for vessel screening and compliance, enabling firms to stay ahead of emerging risks. 📊 Safeguarding credit lines: Strategies to maintain trade finance access and protect working capital from future derisking trends. For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the discussion using #GTRCEE. #TradeCompliance #SanctionsRisk #FinancialInnovation #GlobalTrade

At #GTRCEE in #Vienna, our session on “Financing Gaps for SMEs, Flexible Working Capital, and the Growth of Supply Chain Finance” addressed some of the key challenges and solutions for bridging trade finance gaps in Central & Eastern Europe. With ongoing economic volatility and market pressures, SMEs and local banks in the region are feeling the strain. To address these challenges, industry leaders, including Anna Brod-Ohana (EBRD), James Sexton (Stenn International), Olena Gryniuk (SME Banking Club), Anzhela Barseghyan (ARMSWISSBANK CJSC), Matti Malminen (Konecranes), and Gennadiy Khelemskyy (D.TRADING), discussed: 💡 Prioritising trade finance solutions: Strategies for expanding lender capacity and supporting trade finance access for large corporates and SMEs alike. 💼 Open account financing: How flexible options are evolving to meet working capital demands, creating fresh trade links across the CEE region. 🤝 Buyer-led supplier finance programmes: Addressing onboarding challenges to help smaller local suppliers access much-needed capital. 📉 Overcoming liquidity barriers: Tactics for managing lender risk, and how multilateral and export credit agencies are fostering local credit markets. 🔄 Evolving product offerings: How banks are adapting trade finance products to meet the region’s future needs and increase access. Thank you to our expert panel for sharing valuable perspectives on supporting CEE’s trade finance ecosystem. 🔗 For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the discussion using #GTRCEE #SMEFinance #TradeFinance #SupplyChainFinance #LiquiditySolutions #CEEMarkets

To what extent has global supply chain realignment impacted the CEE region? As global trade dynamics shift, CEE countries like #Poland and the #CzechRepublic are becoming attractive hubs for #manufacturing and #sourcing, thanks to their proximity to consumer markets, robust infrastructure, and competitive production costs. Industry experts, including Alexander Plekhanov (EBRD), Dhiresh Dave (Falcon Group), and Orhan Ozalp (Deutsche Bank), shared insights on: 🔄 Unlocking trade opportunities: How supply chain realignment can open new avenues for global firms and financiers. 📦 Inventory solutions: The rise of inventory management tools for resilient supply chains that optimise costs, enhance liquidity, and strengthen supplier relationships. 📈 Navigating financial pressures: Strategies for overcoming inflation and financial hurdles within evolving supply chain structures. 🌍 Attracting corporates: What makes CEE an ideal location for companies seeking secure warehousing and efficient logistics hubs. 💼 Working capital and FX: The impact on treasury operations and how firms are adapting their strategies to align with these global shifts. Thank you to our speakers for sharing key insights into this important topic. 🔗 For more updates from GTR CEE 2024, follow https://lnkd.in/emmCWy4z and join the discussion using #GTRCEE #TradeResilience #SupplyChain #GlobalTrade