UK Department for International Trade Latin America and Caribbean Regional Conference

On 28th November, 2017 I was honoured to have been invited to attend the UK Department for International Trade Latin America and Caribbean Regional Conference (DIT LATAC), held in Lima, with DIT Heads of Trade and Investment and DIT Managers from specific sectors and LATAC countries.
As part of the conference, I was invited to be part of a panel, together with representatives from Diageo, GSK and Intertek, for an informal discussion on how we worked with DIT; how DIT could help do more business; and the challenges we found in LATAC markets.
A very interesting event.
Patricio Fernandez

51st FELABAN Annual Assembly, Miami

Between the10th and the 14th, November 2017, I represented The London Institute of Banking & Finance at the 51st FELABAN Annual Assembly, that was held in Miami.

Some interesting presentations, amongst them:

- Economic Perspectives for Brazil in 2018: Challenges and Opportunities

- What Is The Role Of The Banking Industry Within The Global Climate Change Agenda?: Challenges And Opportunities

- International Trade Finance - Current And Future State - How It Will Affect Latin America?

- Digital Transformation Of The Banking Industry

As always, a great opportunity to meet friends and colleagues and establish new relationships.

Pura Vida (Pure Life)!! and Financial Education in Costa Rica

Pura Vida (Pure Life) has become an everyday form of salutation in Costa Rica and is also a reminder that this small Central American country accounts for 5% of the world's biodiversity!

In October, 2017, I received a very warm welcome, when I had the pleasure of addressing a group of banking representatives, members of the Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of the British Embassy, at an event we organised on behalf of The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and the National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Costa Rica.

We organised the event in order to present LIBFs Trade Finance Certifications, namely, Certificate for Documentary Credit Specialists (CDCS®), Certificate for Specialists in Demand Guarantees (CSDG®) and Certificate in International Trade and Finance CITF®), designed in partnership with the ICC. It was also announced that ICC in San José would become LIBFs exam centre, for these certifications, in Costa Rica.

It was a very rewarding experience and very glad to see so much interest in LIBFs educational offering and in particular its Trade Finance Certifications.

My thanks to Maria Claudia Jiménez, Executive Director of ICC, Costa Rica; Pablo Ledezma Boschini, President of the Banking Commission; Yorleny Araya, Administrative Assistant and Hector.

Until next time, Costa Rica!

LIBF presentation at ICC, Costa Rica

LIBF presentation at ICC, Paraguay

In August, 2017, Asuncion gave us a warm welcome during the first week of August, when I had the pleasure of addressing a group of banking representatives from Paraguay, at an event we organised on behalf of The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and the National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paraguay.

The event was organised in order to present LIBFs Trade Finance Certifications, namely, Certificate for Documentary Credit Specialists (CDCS®), Certificate for Specialists in Demand Guarantees (CSDG®) and Certificate in International Trade and Finance (CITF®), designed in partnership with the ICC. It was also announced that ICC in Asuncion would become LIBFs exam centre, for these certifications, in Paraguay.

It was an intense week during which we also had the opportunity to call on the Central Bank of Paraguay, the British Embassy and even be interviewed by the T.V channel of the financial daily 5dias.

It was a very rewarding experience and very glad to see so much interest in the educational offering of LIBF and in particular its Trade Finance Certifications.

My thanks to Estefania Careaga, Coordinator of ICC, Paraguay; Paola Quiñónez, President of the Banking Commission and Head of Trade Finance for Banco Regional; and Daniel Oviedo, Executive Director.

Until next time, Paraguay!

LIBF presentation at ICC, Paraguay

FCI 49th Annual Meeting, Lima

Between the 11th and the 15th June, 2017, I represented The London Institute of Banking & Finance at the 49th Annual Meeting of FCI, which was held in Lima.

FCI is the global representative body for the Factoring & Receivables Finance Industry and during the event, the new Supply Chain Finance platform for reverse factoring was introduced. 

A great opportunity to network and to learn about the issues affecting the sector.

33 CLACE in Bolivia

Between 28th and 30th May, attended the 33rd Latin American Foreign Trade Conference held at Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), representing The London Institute of Banking & Finance, who were one of the sponsors of the event.

Glad to see so many colleagues interested in the Trade Finance qualifications offered by LIBF.

Was also interviewed by Delta Financiero.