In our latest quarterly issue: blockchain initiatives dominate trade/finance headlines, digitization as a mitigator of uncertainty in the age of tariffs and Brexit, forecasting the impact of next-gen tech on global trade plus much more! + SUBSCRIBE

Industry News & Views

World Trade Report 2018 highlights transformative impact of digital technologies on trade: WTO report finds that digital technologies such as IoT, AI and Blockchain will add 34% to trade growth by 2030 thanks to lower costs/higher productivity (source: WTO). + READ MORE

ICC launches industry-wide plan for digital trade: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) launches its roadmap for digital trade, aimed at engaging with policymakers to create rules & standards for digital trade finance (source: GTR). + READ MORE

Digitizing Documentary Trade: Key practical insights on the game-changing impact of trade finance digitization from Sam Mathew, Standard Chartered's Head of Documentary Trade (source: SibosTV via YouTube). + READ MORE

INTTRA urges industry-led standards for containers and logistics: A recent INTTRA Survey reveals widespread calls to establish common digital standards, as the digitization of trade & logistics continues to accelerate (source: Seatrade Maritime News). + READ MORE

Oil-Trading Blockchain Platform VAKT Launches With Shell, BP as First Users: Post-trade management platform VAKT has launched its blockchain-based processing tool to an initial group of energy industry users (source: Coin Telegraph). + READ MORE

Trade finance solution Voltron launches open platform on Corda blockchain: Voltron initiative involving leading global trade banks launches its open platform for documentary trade, initially applying DLT for transacting Letters of Credit (source: R3). + READ MORE

Trade Finance Survey 2019: Asia finds a block in blockchain: Asiamoney argues that despite numerous blockchain trade finance initiatives in APAC, the many different consortia need to agree on common ground to accelerate adoption (source: Asiamoney via Euromoney). + READ MORE

Blockchain will add US$3tn to international trade by 2030, predicts WTO: The NGO expects blockchain tech to add US$3tn to global trade by 2030, assuming key projects currently in development prove successful (source: GTR). + READ MORE

Betting on Blockchain: The evolution of networks for trade finance: As part of its series on blockchain in commodities, Fastmarkets takes a close look at the evolution of blockchain networks & consortia for trade finance (source: Fastmarkets MB). + READ MORE

Tariff wars will hurt the US, but trade is on the cusp of a tech breakthrough: Live polling at the BAFT Trade Conference provided a revealing snapshot of sentiment across current issues in trade and tech, including tariff wars & trade digitization (source: TXF). + READ MORE

The Future of Trade Finance is Digital: Group CEO of Doha Bank, R. Seetharaman, calls for increased digitization and inter-connectivity for banks to remain competitive in the trade space (source: Gulf Times). + READ MORE

Blockchain, Brexit, and the Irish border – how tech can help solve this delicate problem: Exploring how tech such as blockchain could play a major role in facilitating a frictionless UK border in a post-Brexit Britain (source: City A.M.). + READ MORE

Pakistan Customs developing paperless trade hub: The Asian country announced a paperless environment to digitize customs processes & connect relevant authorities, targeting launch by 2022 in line with WTO trade facilitation requirements (source: The News PK). + READ MORE

Durban Chamber announces eCO rollout at Exporter Awards Ceremony: Durban Chamber of Commerce announced its rollout of essCert electronic Certificates of Origin (eCOs) at its recent Annual Exporter Awards Ceremony (source: Berea Mail). + READ MORE

essDOCS News & Views

Swisscom Blockchain & essDOCS announce partnership to accelerate paperless trade: Announcing our partnership with Swisscom Blockchain to deliver blockchain-powered digital trade solutions. + READ MORE

TOTSA adopts CargoDocs to digitize export documentation processes for Barge movements: TOTSA Total Oil Trading selects CargoDocs to digitize its export documentation processes for refined petroleum products carried by Barge. + READ MORE

Xcoal signs up for CargoDocs: Leading US-headquartered Coal marketing & logistics provider, xCoal, recently selected CargoDocs to digitize and streamline its export documentation processes. + READ MORE

CERA rolls out essCert eCOs to Argentine Exporters & Forwarders: Enabling users to electronically apply for & submit eCertificates of Origin and supporting docs directly to the Chamber using the essCert solution. + READ MORE

Navigating Origin requirements in the “New NAFTA” Era: essCert's Brian Smith offers practical advice on navigating upcoming Origin requirements under the much-publicized ‘New NAFTA' (USMCA) Agreement. + READ MORE

essDOCS is Hiring: Seeking enthusiastic new Team Members to join our Athens office. + READ MORE

essDOCS in Numbers