Trade & investment

ICC Academy launches advanced programme for trade finance professionals

  • 26 October 2016
Training

The globally recognised e-learning platform of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the ICC Academy, has today launched its long-awaited advanced programme on trade financing. Over a year in the making, the Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP) programme provides cutting edge training and certification on key trade finance products and techniques.

The CTFP is the first advanced-level trade finance programme aimed at product and relationship managers—as well as executives from management, credit, legal and compliance functions.

The growing importance of capacity building in trade finance

The launch of the CTFP programme comes at a time of increasing concern about the health of the trade finance market. Recent Asian Development Bank research found that there is currently a US$1.6 trillion shortage of trade credit globally. Earlier this year, a landmark World Trade Organization report highlighted skills shortages in the banking sector as one of the main causes for the ever-widening gap.

ICC Academy General Manager Daniel Kok said: “The Certified Trade Finance Professional programme has a central role to play in supporting the development of the trade finance market. This is the first advanced trade programme aimed at front- and middle-office professionals in banks and corporates.

CTFP courses deliver the best industry knowledge on a range of trade financing products and techniques and in an accessible format. The new global standard for trade finance training from the world business organization has arrived.

Meet the CTFP

The industry-validated syllabus was developed by a group of leading trade finance experts drawn from ICC’s Banking Commission. Each e-course has been tailor-made to develop the skills needed to deliver and process global trade finance solutions.

The programme is built around five core modules: Advanced Working Capital for Trade; Advanced Documentary Credits; Advanced Guarantees; Advanced Supply Chain Finance; and Export Finance.

A range of elective courses are also available, providing advanced-level training on subjects including: Standby Letters of Credit; Digital Trade & Trade Finance; and Credit Risk.

To learn more about the CTFP and other ICC Academy programmes, please visit: www.icc.academy

What people are saying about the CTFP

“…the biggest hurdle inhibiting the application of the appropriate trade and supply chain finance techniques continues to be a lack of education and confidence amongst both finance providers and, more particularly SMEs. We are both passionate about promoting growth in international trade and contributing to the development and adoption of financing solutions at an individual provider level and industry level. The development of this programme by the ICC Academy will, in our view, make a tremendous contribution to the achievement of both these goals.”

John Bugeja and Lionel Taylor, Co-founders, Trade Advisory Network

“The CTFP programme of the ICC Academy is setting a new industry standard in terms of online training for the trade finance sector. This certification is truly an industry first that recognises experts based on their actual knowledge of the trade finance sector.”

Daniel Cotti, Founder and Managing Director, Cotti Trade and Treasury