Asia Trade & Export Finance Conference

Event Review

Southeast Asia trading powerhouse Singapore was the venue for Exporta’s inaugural Asia Trade & Export Finance Conference on October 6-7, 2009. The two-day event featured 40 specialist speakers and panellists from around the region, covering such areas as: Asia’s trade potential and growth outlook; issues of liquidity and risk appetite; effectiveness and roles of multilaterals; supply chain innovations and solutions; legal and regulatory issues that traders and financiers should know about; the role of ECAs and insurance; commodity finance trends; country briefings on Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and China.

Around 150 delegates attended over the two days and networking opportunities were key for attendees.

As we look towards 2010, with Asia bouncing back from economic downturn, with trade clearly as the driver for recovery, Exporta will increasingly look towards the region with increased focus. We are opening an office in Singapore in April/May 2010, to expand the number of specialised events that we can offer the local trade, commodity and export finance markets. GTR magazine has already increased its Asia content and this will continue from now on.

If you would like to take advantage of the increased profile our events and GTR can offer you in Asia, let us know.

Description

Asia, the world’s workshop and industrial powerhouse, has not escaped the global economic downturn and its traders and financiers are having to adjust accordingly to a new order where risk management, due diligence, ‘know your customer’, value for money and return on investment are as important as ever.

The region is resilient and resourceful however and the global downturn should impact Asia less negatively than in other regions of the globe.

Areas covered through expert panel discussions and speakers will include: 

• Trends and developments in Asia's trade and export finance market
• Export credit insurance and financing
• FX regulations and currency fluctuation implications
• Risk: operational and transactional.
• Risk mitigation, risk associated with trade, export and commodity financing
• Legal issues affecting trade finance, import, export
• Liquidity issues in trade
• Supply chain financing in the Asia-Pacific region
• Islamic finance in trade: the Asian viewpoint
• Financial institutions discussing latest on trade finance
• Corporates sharing their views
• Multilateral institution viewpoints
• Infrastructure and logistics issues

As with all Exporta conferences, the speaker and expert line up will include the senior level specialists in their field. Attendance is expected from all over the Asia-Pacific region as well as from the Middle East, Americas, Europe and Africa.

Great emphasis, as ever, is placed on networking opportunities for delegates. The conference will include a networking evening reception.

If you would like to participate in this event as a sponsor – to raise your profile to a targeted captive audience – or as a speaker, please contact Melanie Attwater at Exporta on mattwater@exportagroup.com or telephone (+44) (0)20 8673 9666.

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

DAY 1

08.30 Registration and refreshments

09.15 Chairman’s introduction
T Mohan, CEO & Managing Editor, Cambodian Review

09.25 Keynote address
HE Sorasak Pan, Secretary of State, Ministry of Commerce, Royal Kingdom of Cambodia

Asia trade and economic outlook

10.00 Roundtable: Trends and developments in Asian trade and export finance
Moderator: T Mohan, CEO & Managing Editor, Cambodian Review
Sean Aston, General Manager, London Forfaiting Company (LFC)
Charles Brough, Director, Forfaiting & Trade Finance Asia Pacific, Unicredit
Roger Packham, Regional Trade Finance Head, Asia Pacific, Deutsche Bank
Soh Chee Seng, Chief Consultant, DCTrade Consultants Singapore; Technical Advisor on Trade Finance, Association of Banks in Singapore; Member, ICC Banking Commission, UCP600 and ISBP Drafting Group
Tan Kah Chye, Managing Director, Transaction Banking & Global Head of Trade Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
John Ting, Managing Director, Head of Forfaiting, Eastern Hemisphere, HSBC

· Liquidity and risk appetite issues in trade
· Back to basics with structures?
· Getting pricing back to normal levels
· Where are the deals and opportunities?
· Who can you trust?
· The ghosts of 1997-98: how is Asia different today?
· Learning from the current recession
· What is the industry doing to drive Asian trade and financing?

11.00 Networking break

Supply chain solutions

11.30 Behind the numbers: how supply chain operations drive financial results
James Nesbitt, Vice-President, Global Trade Services, J.P. Morgan Treasury Services

· Mapping connections between supply chain operations and financial management: comprehending how physical supply chain actions correlate to figures reported in income statements and balance sheets
· How do procurement, distribution, sales/marketing strategies and actions translate into financial language and metrics?
· Focus on a simple tool which can be used to bridge the divide between the physical and financial supply chain

12.15 An integrated approach to supplier financing and payments solutions: a case study in optimising efficiencies
Sundaram Nagasamy, Vice-President & Country Treasurer, ABB India
Venkatesh Somanathan, Regional Head of Trade Finance Cash Management Corporates, South India, Deutsche Bank

· The value of aligning supply chain objectives with a strategic bank partner: a scalable and end-to-end solution on a single platform
· Improving visibility and minimising costs in your supply chain: driving cost and process efficiencies
· Superior use of technology, automation and outsourcing delivering customised solutions

13.00 Lunch

Expert viewpoints from multilaterals

14.15 Multilateral organisations: supporting trade in the region
Moderator: Yanti Agustin, Executive Director, Head, Asia Pacific Global Trade Services, J.P. Morgan
Jason Zhengrong Lu, Senior Underwriter, Miga
Steven Beck, Head of Trade Finance, Asian Development Bank
Serge Devieux, East Asia Regional Manager, Global Financial Markets, IFC

· Introduction to multilateral involvement and roles in Asia
· Priorities for multilaterals in the region
· Working with the commercial sector in furthering trade and investment in Asia
· Outlook and impressions for the next 12 months and beyond

Asia and Australia

14.45 Philippines discussion panel
Moderator: T Mohan, CEO & Managing Editor, Cambodian Review
Mylene Caparas, Head of Corporate Banking Coverage & Global Transaction Banking, Philippines, Deutsche Bank 
Gordon Joseph, CEO, Philinsure

· Economic and business trends in the Philippines
· Issues of risk: political, country, corporate and trade
· Trading opportunities
· Pointers for the future

15.15 Networking break

Southeast Asia focus

15.45 Cambodia discussion panel
Moderator: T Mohan, CEO & Managing Editor, Cambodian Review
Jonathon Lim, General Manager, SLV
Mason Bains, Manager, Business Development, TFC Capital (Cambodia) Pte Ltd 
Khaou Phallaboth, President, Khaou Chuly Group of Companies, Cambodia

· Cambodia and Laos's geopolitical character
· Trade & investment potential today
· Who to trust and who to work with

16.45 Vietnam discussion panel
Moderator: Sonam Kapadia, Executive Director, Global Trade Services, J.P. Morgan
Pascal Serre, Project Finance Head, Alcatel-Lucent Asia
Nguyen Quang Tuan, Head of Research, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank

· Vietnam's economic miracle
· How can Vietnam sustain its growth?
· Where are the trade finance opportunities in Vietnam?

17.20 Close of Day 1 followed by evening reception sponsored by J.P. Morgan

DAY 2

09.00 Chairman’s introduction
T Mohan, CEO & Managing Editor, Cambodian Review

Risk mitigation and structuring

09.10 Geopolitical stress and its impact on trade
Kit Dawnay, Senior Analyst and Head of Asia Research and Intelligence, Aegis

· Economic realignment and geopolitical heft: the growing role of Asia
· Geopolitics and the changing shape of world trade: asymmetric threats
· Regime change/political succession and cultural ripple effect on trade
· Populism vs nihilism: threats to trade
· Ground truth: regulation, enforcement, and managing the ‘ignorance arbitrage’

09.50 Roundtable: Export credit insurance and financing
Moderator: Conor O'Dowd, Executive Director, Global Distribution & Insurance, J.P. Morgan
David Anderson, Senior V-P & Regional Manager, Political Risk & Trade Credit, Zurich Surety, Credit and Political Risk
Mark Cooper, Managing Director, TFC Brokerage
Price Lowenstein, President & CEO, Sovereign Risk Insurance
Amy Shinkman, Regional Manager – Asia, Special Products, Atradius

· Is this the time for credit insurance for Asian trade?
· Is political risk insurance more popular and how can it be used today?
· How can an exporter or importer use insurance to help in today’s climate?
· What is risk appetite like now and where are the opportunities and black spots?

10.40 Networking break

Legal and regulatory issues

11.10 Technical issues and ICC rulings update
Soh Chee Seng, Chief Consultant, DCTrade Consultants Singapore; Technical Advisor on Trade Finance, Association of Banks in Singapore; Member, ICC Banking Commission, UCP600 and ISBP Drafting Group

· Rethinking Trade Finance 2009: an ICC global survey
· A global survey based on responses from 122 banks in 59 countries
· The impact of the crisis on trade finance
· Trade Finance 2008, prospects for 2009

11.50 Legal protection for your international sales, loans and investments
Tony George & Carol Searle, Partners, Political & Trade Credit Risks, Ince & Co London

· The contract
· The international treaty
· The insurance policy
· Arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution
· Security, enforcement and recovery

12.30 Lunch

Commodity finance

13.30 Commodity finance roundtable discussion
Moderator: T Mohan, CEO & Managing Editor, Cambodian Review
Philippe Gonnet, Executive Vice-President, Cotecna
Ashok Das, Executive Director, Commodities, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Matthew Cox, Partner, Denton Wilde Sapte
Oliver Wright, Partner, Mataram Partners

· Liquidity issues in commodity finance today
· Effects of the oil price on commodity finance
· Trends and sector opportunities
· Anticipating demand and business drivers

China & India

14.15 India and China comparative survey
Christophe Souquet, Deputy GM of Risks Business Unit, Coface

· Are credit sales becoming more popular in these countries? Why?
· Do corporates pay promptly?
· Are local companies well equipped to face non-payment risks?
· Impact of the crisis on corporate payment behaviour
· Country risk and business climate ratings
· Difficulties and challenges of both countries in the current economic environment

14.55 China roundtable discussion: economic and trade outlook
Moderator: Wong Meng Choong, Managing Director Asia, China Export Finance
Neil Daswani, Regional Head of Transaction Banking (Northeast Asia), Standard  Chartered
Pascal Serre, Project Finance Head, Alcatel-Lucent Asia

· Will China's economic growth be maintained?
· What is driving China's trade growth?
· Where can foreign companies and financiers take advantage still?

15.40 Summary and close of conference with networking break

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodation.  Once you have registered to attend the conference details on how to make a reservation at the Intercontinental Singapore will be given.

Sponsors

Sponsorship opportunities including exhibition stands are available for this event.

To become a sponsor, please contact Tom Whitehead, Head of Sponsorship Sales at twhitehead@exportagroup.com.

Exporta's events have a global reputation, renowned for superb networking opportunities and educational presentations by high-profile speakers.

Time after time our events attract the leading companies in our market as sponsors.

See below for a full list of our Event Sponsors, Institutional Partners and Media Partners and click on the logo to visit their web site. 

Delegate Packs