The Fimbank Group has closed the one remaining gap in its global trade finance capabilities by opening a branch of its subsidiary London Forfaiting Company (LFC) in Singapore. The trade finance boutique was able to hire Enrico Canova to build up Asian business.

Canova was most recently executive director at WestLB, Singapore. He opened several forfaiting desks while at WestLB, including ones in Hong Kong and Shanghai and introduced the forfaiting product to Japan by establishing the first-ever such desk in Tokyo in 1999. He has also spent time at CSFB and Glencore.

Fimbank/LFC’s strategy for the Asia-Pacific region reflects the group’s stated mission to become a prime supplier of first-class, comprehensive but tailor-made trade finance solutions. The diversified range of products clients will enjoy extends from the simple discounting of trade receivables to more complex commodity-related and back-to-back structures.

As a highly specialised niche player with unique expertise in certain geographical areas such as North Africa and the Middle East, LFC Singapore will cater to banks and medium-sized corporate clients in the region looking for truly individual, value-added services, claims the bank.

Asia is widely viewed as one of the fastest-growing areas in the world with the People’s Republic of China slowly but steadily becoming one of the true economic powerhouses of the world. It is therefore not surprising that Fimbank/LFC is keen to seize on the manifold opportunities that this vast market offers, adds the bank.