At the annual general meeting of the Association of Forfaiters in the Americas (Afia) recently, the general assembly unanimously approved a name change proposed by the outgoing board.

After receiving New York State recognition, the association will be named The Association of Trade and Forfaiting in the Americas (Atfa). This name change reflects the trade finance market in the Americas and the association’s objective of attracting additional trade finance market participants that have a broader mandate than forfaiting, claims the body.

Also, new board members and officers were voted in for the year.

Atfa is a not-for-profit corporation incorporated in New York. It is an association of financial institutions involved and interested in forfaiting and trade finance. It is dedicated to fostering and promoting international trade finance in north, south and Central America and the Caribbean.

The association educates its members and the public by:

  •  organising and providing seminars, lectures, and publications on topical areas of international trade finance;
  •  serving as a medium of exchange of information between organisations with an interest in forfaiting and international trade finance;
  •  serving as a specialised trade association offering advice and counsel to interested parties involved in trade finance;
  •  fostering national and international communication, cooperation and understanding by encouraging contact with similar trade organisations overseas and complementary organisations in the Americas;
  •  seeking to promote the highest degree of ethical and professional standards amongst membership.

The board of directors are:

Greg Bernardi, president and treasurer, London Forfaiting Americas
Hernan Mayol, vice-president, Bladex
Don Asadorian, secretary, WestLB
Milton Rodriguez, board member, Banco do Brasil
Inwha Huh, board member, Deutsche Bank
Sergio Saichin, board member, JPMorgan Chase
Bruce Fields, board member, Standard Americas