The FINANCIAL — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is organising a trade finance training workshop in Tunisia as part of its ongoing support to the financial sector and the development of import and export activity in the country.
Trade finance professionals, business development executives from banks, representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises, transport operators, insurers and legal advisors attending this workshop will acquire know-how in international trade and finance that can enable them to expand their business to international markets, according to EBRD.
The workshop has been developed by IFS University College in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce. The event will prepare participants for an internationally recognised qualification such as the Certificate in International Trade and Finance (CITF).
Marie-Alexandra Veilleux-Laborie, EBRD Head of Office in Tunisia, said: “Technical assistance and training such as this trade facilitation workshop are key to support our activities in the country. The workshop will deepen the knowledge of local experts, support the development of international trade for Tunisian businesses and promote international standards in trade transactions.”
Since its beginnings in 1999, the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) has promoted foreign trade to, from and among the countries in which the EBRD invests. Through the Programme, the EBRD provides guarantees to international confirming banks and short-term loans to selected banks and factoring companies for on-lending to local exporters, importers and distributors.
The TFP currently includes almost 100 partner banks in 26 countries where the Bank invests, with limits exceeding €1.5 billion in total, and more than 800 confirming banks worldwide.
In 2014, Banque Tuniso-Koweïtienne (BTK) won EBRD awards for the Most Active Issuing Bank in Tunisia and for Deal of the Year in the southern and eastern Mediterranean region.
Tunisia became an EBRD shareholder in 2012 and to date the Bank has invested more than €300 million across 25 projects in various sectors of the economy. Through the EBRD’s Small Business Support programme, the Bank has also initiated more than 220 technical assistance capacity-building projects that directly benefit Tunisian small and medium-sized enterprises.
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