2nd Annual Levant Region Trade & Export Finance Conference

Event Review

With Levant businesses facing both domestic and regional challenges, Exporta’s 2nd Annual Levant Region Trade & Export Finance Conference at the InterContinental Phoenicia in Beirut was perfectly timed to address the changing operational and financing priorities of local corporate and financial institutions.

The prestigious annual meeting was opened by a double keynote address by the ICC Lebanon and Mr. Nassib Ghobril, Chief Economist and Head of Economic Research & Analysis at Byblos Bank Group. The opening presentations focused on the macroeconomic positioning of the Levant region within the wider market, how the current political situation is affecting trade and the role of banks in facilitating exports, essential to economic growth.

Dr. Khater Abi Habib, Chairman of the joint public-private development guarantee programme, Kafalat, tackled the most pressing of domestic issues in profiling the diverse challenges SMEs face in the current trading environment – including the availability of products and services which local corporate organisations can access.

As well as a strong local representation from the likes of BLOM Bank and the Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI), the international community was present throughout the agenda, with HSBC, IFC and FIMBank discussing the current risk appetite of trade finance practitioners, with a strong emphasis on the collaborative efforts needed to finance trade.

There was of course concern for the current political and economic situation in Syria. This theme ran throughout the course of the day, with a presentation by Mr. Riyadh Takieddine, Economist at the Syrian European Economic Council providing first-hand accounts of organisations operating in the country, sparking involved debate.

As with all Exporta events, networking was a key theme throughout the day. The InterContinental Phoenicia provided the ideal location for peer-to-peer networking amongst key decision makers, with new business relationships being formed as well as the chance to meet old friends.

The conference welcomed support by the eminent institutions, BLOM Bank, the Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI), FIMBank, Levant Factors, Kafalat, Pinnacle Solutions and China Systems, as well as institutional support from the ICC Lebanon, IFC and Berne Union.

Description

Exporta are delighted to return to Lebanon for the 2nd Annual Levant Region Trade & Export Finance Conference being held in the picturesque city of Beirut. The conference will bring together the local and international trade finance community to discuss key topics relating to opportunities and challenges that this traditionally significant economic region holds.

Having experienced a period of uncertainty surrounding domestic and intra-regional trade - mainly through the sustained economic impact of the Arab Spring - the resilience of many organisations operating in this market has proven to be unwavering, which has been epitomised by the strength of the local banking sector.

As the only dedicated trade finance event in the region, the conference will enable delegates to gain invaluable information from industry specialists during stand-alone presentations, engage with speakers during panel discussions and to see how peers are operating from specific case studies. Networking will also be a strong theme throughout the conference with regular networking breaks where essential new business contacts will be made.

Among the topics to be covered:
• To what extent is the current political climate affecting Levant trade today?
• Exploring SME case studies highlighting trade and funding challenges
• How much risk are trade financiers prepared to take?
• Value chain: Enabling financial institutions to effectively monitor and control assets
• Providing first-hand accounts of organisations operating in Syria
• How can traders reduce exposure while increasing access to funding?
• Understanding the impact of anti-bribery and corruption regulations on AML
• Financing the supply chain: A Jordanian experience
• The BPO: Streamlining the payment process
• Expanding support mechanisms through developmental funding
• Case study: How alternative funding methods can increase an exporter’s options

Who should attend?
• Trade, export and commodity finance heads and directors
• Corporate finance directors, CFOs and treasurers
• Insurance underwriters and brokers
• Export credit agencies
• Multilaterals
• Solution providers
• Lawyers and consultants
• Market analysts and policy advisors

There will also be a special evening reception following the conference where all delegates can continue the day's discussions and engage in further dialogue in a more informal setting.
 

Event Photos

Brochure

08.00 Registration and refreshments

09.00 Chairman’s opening remarks
Karim Nasrallah, General Manager, Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI)

09.05 Keynote: To what extent is the current political climate affecting Levant trade today?
Cesar Ghorayeb, Senior Representative, International Chamber of Commerce Lebanon
• Assessing regional trade flows and the impact of social and political unrest
• Mitigating risk: How can corporates insulate themselves from political turmoil?
• Analysing the role of development bodies and organisations in supporting trade
• Considering future challenges regarding intra-regional and international trade

09.40 What actions do banks have to take in order to secure long-term stability for the Levant region?
Nassib Ghobril, Chief Economist, Head of Economic Research & Analysis,  Byblos Bank Group
• Analysing the role of financial institutions in creating economic stability
• Do banks still have a ‘wait and see’ attitude? And what does this mean for trade?
• To what extent is the situation in Syria affecting the risk appetite of the rest of the Levant FIs?
• What do banks currently need from their governments and policy makers?

10.15 Networking break

11.00 Exploring SME case studies highlighting trade and funding challenges
Khater Abi Habib, Chairman, Kafalat
• Case studies: Profiling the diverse challenges SMEs face in the current trading environment
• How easy is it for SMEs to find affordable funding in the present market?
• What support mechanisms are in place to facilitate SME growth? And is this sustainable?
• Are banks concentrating too much on the larger deals instead of financing SMEs?

11.30 Panel discussion: How much risk are trade financiers currently prepared to take?
Moderator: Margrith Lütschg-Emmenegger, President, FIMBank
Jacques Sabounji, Head of Trade Finance, BLOM Bank
Anthony Jabbour, Head of Financial Institutions, Credit Libanais
Tim Evans, MENA Regional Head, Trade & Receivables Finance, HSBC
Ahmed Hanaa, Trade Finance Officer, Middle East & North Africa, IFC
Hachem Fadlallah, International Trade Department Manager, Fenicia Bank
• How do banks view the current environment and what are the challenges of supporting trade?
• Analysing how banks are responding to corporate’s needs and their desire for funding
• Worth the risk? Assessing challenges to banks in lending to regional start-ups
• Profiling collaborations between local and international financial institutions
• What length of tenors are financiers happy to take on at the moment?

12.30 Case study: How can traders reduce exposure while increasing access to funding?
Karim Nasrallah, General Manager, Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI)
• Is factoring the ideal way for liquidity scarce companies to invest in growth and aid expansion?
• What are the benefits to SMEs of using non-traditional funding methods?
• Case study: Looking at success stories and the processes involved
• The role of trade credit insurance in mitigating operational risk

13.00 Lunch

Choose between Stream A or Stream B

Stream A: Assessing the wider regional trading environment

Chairman: Karim Nasrallah, General Manager, Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI)

14.30 Expanding support mechanisms through developmental funding
Ahmed Hanaa, Trade Finance Officer, Middle East & North Africa, IFC
• In what ways are developmental organisations supporting Levant trade?
• Breaking down barriers to regional development: What is the solution to a limited access to finance?
• How is funding from developmental institutions filtered down to banks?
• Is supporting and financing SMEs the single biggest obstacle of economic development?

15.00 Financing the supply chain: A Jordanian experience
Mohamad Shahin, Chief Executive Officer, Al Imdad (A subsidiary of Investbank)
• Warehouse receipt financing: An alternative method to finance raw materials and finished products
• Increasing the use of reverse factoring for traders and manufacturers to improve cash flow
• Using purchase order financing in assisting SMEs secure and execute more and bigger orders
• Increasing processing speeds from inventory to invoice

15.30 Understanding the impact of anti-bribery and corruption regulations on AML
Mohammad Masry, Senior Consultant, China Systems
• Reviewing key anti-bribery and corruption legislative initiatives and the impact on AML screening
• Analysing today’s heightened regulatory environment affecting anti-money laundering processes
• How costly could potential exposure be to firms who fail to implement these processes correctly?
• What impact will these regulations have on business practices over the long-term?

16.00 Networking break

Stream B: Exploring financing tools for financiers and traders

Chairman: David Hennah, Senior Product Manager, Swift

14.30 The BPO: Streamlining the payment process
Bassam P. Geha, International Operations Counselor, Group Operations Division, Byblos Bank Group
David Hennah, Senior Product Manager, Swift
• Removing the potential problems and issues associated with the traditional letter of credit (LC)
• Outlining payment obligations for importing banks based on the presentation of specific electronic data
• Reducing the risk of human error through the presentation of all relevant information
• Providing updates on the progress made so far in making the BPO an accepted market practice

15.00 Value chain: Enabling financial institutions to effectively monitor and control assets
Andre Soumah, Chairman, Ace Audit Control & Expertise Global
• What are the benefits that a local credit support agency can bring in terms of presence and expertise?
• How can financial institutions enter new market segments and mitigate risk?
• Controlling the goods: Freeing up cash by effectively managing the working capital
• How to best structure a loan surrounding the commodity supply chain

15.30 Case study: How alternative funding methods can increase an exporter’s options
William George, Deputy General Manager, IBL Invest
• Analysing available options for corporates to diversify their funding activities
• Which financing products can expand a company’s activities in Lebanon and abroad?
• Streamlining internal business processes to provide optimum efficiency
• What are the benefits of using long-term financing as opposed to short-term products?

16.00 Networking break

Final Session: Main Room

16.25 Providing first-hand accounts of organisations operating in Syria
Riyadh Takieddine, Economist, Syrian European Economic Council
• Offering on-the-ground insight into Syria’s current trading environment
• How are business leaders developing strategies to cope with the current challenges?
• What level of support can banks realistically give their clients at this time?
• What mitigation tactics can organisations employ to smooth business?

16.50 What opportunities does the Turkish economy offer to the Levant region?
Burak Kurtbay, Director of Trade Finance, Aktif Bank
Marco Ferioli, Head of Istanbul Office, Turkey & Middle East, Sace
• Tracking Turkey’s trade flows and the opportunities this presents for outside liquidity
• Does the local banking sector have sufficient capacity and risk appetite to cover Turkey’s trade needs?
• Which sectors are proving to be most profitable? And how can local operators enter the market?
• A reality check: Does the perception of rising prospects in Turkey match reality?

17.25 Chairman’s closing remarks
• A summary of the day’s agenda and the key messages to take away
• Assessing practical tools currently available for the Levant market

17.30 Close of conference followed by evening drinks reception

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodation.

Upon registering to attend this event, Exporta will inform you of how to book accommodation at the venue.

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. 

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