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June 30, 2009
2nd Africa Bank-to-Bank Forum: Sustaining Trade Finance Through Challenging Times
What is the objective of the forum? The objective of the forum is to bring together senior African bankers to inform th...
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Nairobi,
Kenya
 

Ex-Im Bank Responds to the Financial Crisi

So Good, It's a Waste of Time

Preparing for the Inception of International ACH Transactions

Is the Single Euro Payments Area Still on Track?

Financing the Supply Chain in Good Times and Bad 

Managing Trade Risk in the Financial Crisis

Supply Chain Finance Comes of Age

Commerce's Best Kept Secret Exposed

BAFT Trade Finance Issues

 

Latin American Foreign Trade Congress

June 3-5, 2009

For more information, click here.

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2009 FELABAN Annual Assembly

November 15-17, 2009


For More infromation, click here
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade is a financial trade association whose membership represents a broad range of internationally active financial institutions and companies that provide important services to the global financial community.  BAFT serves as a forum for analysis, discussion and action among international financial professionals on a wide range of topics affecting international trade and finance, including legislative/regulatory issues.  Because of its global focus and broad membership, BAFT plays a unique role in expanding markets worldwide, shaping public policy, and promoting practices that preserve the safety and soundness of the international financial system.

 

We are working on redesigning our website.  Please be patient with us as we work to improve the site.  Should you encounter a problem with the website, please let us know. Contact Emily Montfort at 202-663-5534 or emontfor@aba.com  Thank you.

For on-line registration for BAFT's 2nd Africa Bank-to-Bank Forum, click here

June 12, 2009

 

BAFT TO HOLD AFRICA BANK-TO-BANK FORUM

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade announced that their second annual Africa Bank-to-Bank Forum is set for June 30- July 1 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The forum brings together senior African bankers to discuss some of the more significant developments in the region as well as to share best practices. This year's forum will focus on growing liquidity concerns, trade contraction, restraints on credit and the probability of increased regulatory oversight.

     To access the BAFT press release, click here 

May 20, 2009

 

BAFT ISSUES JOINT STATEMENT ON UPCOMING SWIFT FORMAT CHANGE

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), The Clearing House, The European Banking Federation, The International Banking Federation, The International Chamber of Commerce, The International Council of Securities Associations, The International Financial Services Association, SWIFT and The Wolfsberg Group are issuing this joint statement and associated presentation in order to raise awareness regarding the new SWIFT Message Format for Cover Payments, which will go live on November 21st, 2009. This joint communication was developed as BAFT and the other organizations involved have been active in the area of cover payments for some time now and are therefore seeking, collectively, to apprise others in the industry, and beyond, of the forthcoming changes to the payments system and its implications, which may be substantial.

 

     To access the Joint Industry Letter, click here.

     To access the Joint Industry Slides, click here.

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May 11, 2009

 

BAFT ANNOUNCES "NEXT STEPS" ON TRADE FINANCE CRISIS

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade announced "next steps" today for the industry in collaboration with other stakeholders in the trade finance crisis. The announcement came at this year's BAFT Asia Conference on Cash, Treasury and Trade in Beijing. The conference, jointly managed by BAFT and the Asian Banker, provides a timely venue for top regional and global banking authorities to discuss the transaction banking business of trade finance, cash management, and treasury services.

     To access the BAFT press release, click here 

April 30, 2009

 

TOP TRADE FINANCE OFFICIALS ADDRESS BAFT SUMMIT

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) held a summit on April 29, 2009 in Dana Point, California to discuss the effects of the credit crunch on trade finance. Stakeholders from around the globe met for a series of frank discussions about the G-20 announcements on trade finance, liquidity issues, capital requirement issues, and the appetite and capacity for credit risk.

     To access the BAFT press release, click here 

April 29, 2009

 

HOWARD BASCOM NAMED CHAIRMAN OF BAFT

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) elected Howard Bascom to lead the organization for the 2009-2010 year at the association?s 87th annual meeting in Dana Point, California. Other officers and the members of the BAFT Board of Directors were also elected.

 

     To access the BAFT press release, click here 

April 1, 2009

 

BAFT SOLUTIONS ON TRADE FINANCE CRISIS SENT TO

G-20 FINANCE MINISTERS

 

      Donna K. Alexander, president of the Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade, sent a letter to each of the G-20 finance ministers expressing the organization's concern over the lack of a globally coordinated response to address the systemic dislocation in trade finance.

  

     To access the BAFT press release, click here.

     To access a sample letter, click here.

     To access the recommendations, click here.

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March 31, 2009

 

BAFT RELEASES INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF BANKS 

3 out of 4 say demand has contributed to a decline in trade finance

 

      A new survey, conducted by the Bankers? Association for Finance and Trade in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and FImetrix market research, has identified substantial decreases in the value of international trade finance businesses in the 2008 fourth quarter and cites falling demand as the key contributing factor.

  

     To access the BAFT press release, click here.

     To access the Survey, click here.

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February 18, 2009

 

BAFT WELCOMES RE-LAUNCH OF DUE DILIGENCE REPOSITORY

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), welcomed the re-launch of the Bankers' Almanac Due Diligence Repository last week. The Due Diligence Repository will serve as a global industry standard, providing consistency and conformity in due diligence document checks and reducing the administrative burden that banks face when conducting Know Your Customer (KYC) assessments on their counterparties.

     To access the BAFT press release, click here 

January 16, 2009

 

BAFT PAPER ON CURRENT GLOBAL TRADE ISSUES

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), in response to member concerns about the lack of a globally coordinated response to address systemic dislocation in trade finance, prepared a paper to be used as a platform for discussion at the BAFT Trade Finance Summit in London on January 20, 2009. Participants at the Summit include representatives from major global trade financial institutions and those from other key stakeholders, including export credit agencies, credit insurers and other government institutions. 

  

     To access the BAFT paper, click here 

November 18, 2008

BAFT HOSTS INTERNATIONAL TRADE BRIEFING BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) hosted an international conference call for the industry this morning with Clay Lowery, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the US Department of the Treasury and Michael W. Wiseman, Head of the Financial Services Group at the law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell.  The call provided an opportunity for BAFT members and the financial services industry to receive an up-to-the-minute, in-depth briefing from a senior U.S. Treasury official and leading legal expert on the G-20 Summit held over the weekend and current efforts to address the ongoing global economic crisis.

  

     To access the program summary, click here.

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November 17, 2008

 

BAFT AND FELABAN FORM COLLABORATIVE ALLIANCE  

3 out of 4 say demand has contributed to a decline in trade finance

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade and the Latin American Banking Federation (FELABAN) today announced that they have formed a collaborative alliance to help achieve their shared vision and goals .

  

     To access the entire press release, click here .

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November 5, 2008

 

BAFT AND ABA COMMENT LETTER ON OFAC ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES  

 

 

      The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) and the American Bankers Association (ABA) sent a letter to the Office of Foreign Assets Control in response to their invitation to summit comments on the interim final rule, Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines.

  

     To learn more and access the letter, click here 

January 23, 2008

NEWS RELEASE:

BAFT LAUNCHES STANDARDIZED MASTER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT New Standardized Documentation Creates Greater Opportunity for International Trade Finance Participations

The Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade is endorsing a new industry standard document today that will be used by European banks to facilitate the buying and selling of country and bank trade-related risk. The new Industry Master Participation Agreement endorsed by BAFT is designed to simplify the exchange of documentation between banks and reduce legal costs by minimizing redundancies and excessive bi-lateral discussions. 

      The industry Master Participation Agreement is governed by English law and was drafted by a working group made up of certain members of the EAC.  It is anticipated to become the standard framework agreement for member banks of the EAC.

     For more information,see the Master Participation Agreement Fact Sheet.  Click here.

For a list of participating institutions, click here.

     To see the Master Participation Agreement as pdf, click here..

To see the Master Participation Agreement as doc, click here

BAFT Calendar of Events

October 29, 2008; BAFT Trade Finance Committee Meeting, Chicago IL 

October 30-31, 2008; 18th Annual International Trade Conference, Renaissance Chicago Hotel, Chicago IL 

November 4-5, 2008:  1st African Advisory Council Forum, JES Securities Exchange, Sandton Johannesburg, South Africa

November 13, 2008:  European Advisory Council Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal

November 25, 2008:  Asia Advisory Council Meeting, Singapore 

January 20, 2009: Trade Finance Forum, London UK

January 20-22, 2009: 4th Annual European Bank-to-Bank Forum - Windsor, United Kingdom

February 17, 2009:  Asian Advisory Council Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand

March 12, 2009:  BAFT Compliance Committee Meeting, New York NY 

March 19, 2009:  European Advisory Council Meeting, London, United Kingdom

April 15, 2009:  BAFT Trade Finance Committee Meeting, Washington, DC 

April 26-29, 2009: 87th Annual Meeting , The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel   Dana Point, CA

April 27, 2009:  Trade Finance Summit II - The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel   Dana Point, CA

May 10-13, 2009: BAFT  Asian Advisory Council Conference on Cash, Treasury and Trade, China World Hotel, Beijing, China in conjunction with the Asian Banker Summit 2009. 

May 13, 2009: Asia Advisory Council Meeting, Beijing China 

June 11, 2009:  European Advisory Council Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden

June 30- July 1, 2009:  2nd Africa Bank-to-Bank Forum, Nairobi Serena Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

July 1, 2009:  Africa Advisory Council Meeting,  Nairobi, Kenya

September 13, 2009:  BAFT Global Strategic Forum ,  Hong Kong

November 3-5, 2009:  19th Annual International Trade Conference,  New York, NY

November 3, 2009:  BAFT Board Meeting,  10:00 am - 1:30 pm, New York, NY      Trade Finance Committee Meeting,  2:00 pm-5:30 pm, New /York, NY

November 5, 2009:  European Council Meeting, Paris, France

January 19-20, 2010:  5th European Bank-to-Bank Forum,  Windsor, United Kingdom

March 25, 2010:  European Council Meeting, Madrid, Spain

April 18-21, 2010: 88th Annual Meeting , The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach   FL

June 24, 2010:  European  Council Meeting, Frankfort, Germany

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 For more information about conferences contact:    Melissa Ward-Papageorgiou 202-663-5536  or    Deborah Smith 202-663-5533.

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BAFT-FELABAN Sign Statement of Cooperation NOV 2008

Left-to-right--Front Row: newly-elected FELABAN President Ricardo Marino, BAFT Chairman of the Board Chuck Silverman (Wachovia), Fernando Pozo, immediate-past President of FELABAN; Back row: John Rodriguez (Wells Fargo), Julio Rojas (Standard Chartered).

BAFT-FELABAN Sign Statement of Cooperation NOV 2008.

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BAFT Adds its Support for the ContinuedUS-China Strategic Economic Dialogue     FEB 2009

BAFT has added its support to a letter sponsored by the Engage China Coalition calling for a continued and increased economic dialogue with China.  The letter, which was sent to President Barack Obama, called on the Administration to continue the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) or a similar high-level framework of regular communication with senior Chinese officials, as developed under the Bush Administration. 

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To see the Engage China letter to the President, click here.

Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade
1120 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. 5th Floor | Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: 202.663.7575 | Fax: 202.663.5538
Web : http://www.baft.org | Email : baft@aba.com