The second Global Commodity Trade Finance Conference 2015 took place in Lugano this month at the Lugano Convention Centre, on September 29^th.

The conference provided traders, financiers and policy makers with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion on the leading issues impacting on global trade, with particular emphasis on the public and private sectors, and with discussions focussing on growth within the commodity market.

Held in partnership with the Lugano Commodity Trade Association (LCTA), the event reflected Switzerland’s role as one of the world’s leading hubs for commodities such as steel, base metals, carbon, oil and gas. Sponsored by a number of global and regional institutions and supported by leading industry bodies such as Swiss Trading & Shipping Association, Camera di Commercio Cantone Ticino, British Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, it welcomed participation from leading trading companies such as Duferco, Trafigura and Sahara Group amongst others.

Such opportunities formed the basis for the day’s discussions, including an opening keynote address from noted expert Stephane Graber, Secretary General, Swiss Trading & Shipping Association (STSA), who reflected on the incentives provided to ensure Switzerland remains a key global commodity hub in the face of strong competition from other regions, most notably Asia. With continued pressures in Europe and the scaling back in Russia, discussions on the changing face of commodity finance questioned whether greater emphasis has been placed on relatively untapped commodity markets such as South-East Asia, Africa and Latin America. Other issues that were debated included the challenges faced by traders due to the sharp decline in oil and steel prices and the opportunities offered by the constant change in global dynamics.

Commenting on the significance of such a gathering, Rosie Madderson, GTR Conference Producer said, “The commodities sector is going through a momentous time at present, with concerns over pricing, slowdown in key markets such as China, sanctions in Russia and an ever-expanding regulatory landscape. Events such as this serve a key purpose in delving into the fundamental challenges, highlighting the opportunities available to traders and companies alike, whilst also spotlighting the specific intricacies of a thriving hub such as Lugano.”

The conference was preceded by a special evening seminar, organised by the LCTA and held on the evening of Monday September 28, welcoming delegates to Lugano and setting the scene for a hugely productive day of high level discussions.