The Global Export Finance Conference is the annual meeting of the export finance industry. Now in it’s ninth year, this conference attracts over 350 exporters, importers, agencies, financiers, insurers and lawyers from across the world.
Throughout the last decade the conference has seen many changes dictated by economic conditions and their impact on the industry.
We are now entering a time when corporates are looking at export finance solutions more than at any time over the last few years. ECAs, only a few years ago being urged to reform drastically, now have the opportunity to step up to the plate and demonstrate how they are able to underwrite deals in challenging times. Export finance departments are now among the busiest in their respective banks.
Simply put, 2008/9 offers an opportunity for export finance to earn its stripes.
This year the conference will be held in Berlin – an historic city which represents not only the political machinery of one of the world’s major manufacturing nations; but also a thriving international city, as appealing to tourists as to the global business community.
The full programme for this event is now complete, with over 70 speakers confirmed from 20 countries, including:
BORROWERS:
· Ilya Sosnov, CFO, Salavatnefteorgsintez (SNOS)
· Huseyin Eren, Deputy Secretary General, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
· Sudhir Jaiswal, Special Director, Business Development, Ashok Leyland Limited
· Sergey Rezontov, Acting Head of Corporate Finance, Mechel OAO
· Lyubym Gerasymenko, Head of Finance, Steel Division, Metinvest Holding
EXPORTERS:
· Annette Jung, Business Finance EMEA, Philips International B.V.
· Paolo Frascarolo, Head of Finance, Techint Finanziaria Srl
· Christian Boerner, Managing Director, Midland Resources
· Laurent Valentin, Managing Director, Customer Finance, Europe and Russia/CIS Region, GE Capital Markets
· Serge Couvreur, Secretary of the Investment Committee, Veolia Water
· Thomas Rebsamen, Vice President, Head of Project and Export Finance, Switzerland, Alstom
· Nigel Taylor, Senior Vice President, Customer, Project and Structured Finance, Airbus
· Karl Onko von Kameke, Vice President, International Financing, Siemens AG Energy Sector
· Pierpaolo Di Fabio, Corporate Director – Finance, KME Group Spa
· Gerdpeter v. Guretzky-Cornitz, Head Financial Services Division, SMS Demag AG
· Michael Hannig, Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance & Project and Trade Finance, Voith AG
· Heinz Noster, Head of Finance, Uhde GmbH
AGENCIES:
· Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director, Global Business, SACE
· Henrik G. Welch, Director, Guarantees Department, EKF
· Marc Murcia, Head of Medium and Long Term Department, Coface
· John McAdams, COO and Senior Vice President, Export Finance, US Exim Bank
· Dr. Hans Janus, Member of the Management Board, Export Credit Guarantees, Euler Hermes
Key topics to be discussed this year include:
· What the liquidity crisis means for export finance
· Use of export finance as part of a sophisticated financing portfolio
· Major developments in PRI and trade finance as a result of the credit crisis and oil price environment
· Local content: Crossing borders and satisfying all sides
· Assessing current emerging market activity in other financial product skill sets
· A heightened role for development banks and multilaterals in the post-high liquidity world
· Local banking: What the international funding crisis means
· Environmental and social considerations: How such issues have changed in light of the credit crisis
· Renewables and environmental projects: How to finance an excessive deal book
· Focus of the metals sector: Evaluating the use of export finance
· Energy and oil & gas: Assessing the financing tools available to producers
· Export finance tranches in project and infrastructure finance solutions
Special features for 2008:
· Champagne Roundtables Discussions on a series of crucial topics allow delegates to debate key market issues specifically with those colleagues at the conference that share similar interests and concerns
· Drinks receptions on the 27th and 28th October will allow attendees to maximise the networking potential offered by the event and to establish important new contacts in a less formal environment
· Euler Hermes, the German ECA, will once more be hosting the separately bookable Export Finance Germany day, an opportunity for over 150 delegates to discuss those issues most pertinent for German ECA-backed activity (see page 7 for further details)
· Returning by popular demand, the entire three day conference will now be serviced by our Audience Response System, whereby each delegate is given an electronic handset and is asked to vote on a series of issues related to the industry throughout the conference. There is no better way to obtain a snapshot of the opinions and forecasts of this thriving sector
By attending the 9th Annual Global Export Finance Conference:
· Corporates (both exporters and importers) will get the opportunity to discuss their financing needs with senior professionals from an industry more likely to be able to provide the right solutions than all others in this low liquidity environment
· Financiers can discuss the state of the industry with clients, agencies and colleagues alike, gauging opportunities and finding solutions in an exciting period for the industry, yet challenging times for the wider world of finance
· Export Credit Agencies can feel the pulse and sentiment of the market through discussions with the very institutions driving innovation and demand throughout the industry
· Private Risk Insurers can seize upon opportunities that a higher risk environment is creating, whilst learning to tailor their own products to the needs of corporates and bankers alike
· Lawyers can become comfortable with the extra structuring that will come with a more complex financing environment, whilst gaining first hand knowledge of the regulatory environments of different emerging market jurisdictions
For more information on the programme please contact Dan Sheriff:
+44 207 779 8406
dsheriff@euromoneyplc.com
For more information on sponsorship opportunities please contact Dominik Kloiber:
+44 207 779 8099
dkloiber@euromoneyplc.com