Trade Finance Conference | Actions Not Words | 21 October 2025

Registrations

Welcome Remarks

• Chris Southworth, Secretary General, ICC United Kingdom

Opening Remarks

• Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL, Chair of ICC United Kingdom / Co-Chair of B20 Taskforce on Digital Transformation
• Reed Smith

Panel 1 – What will it take for more companies to digitalise trade?

Overview:

This session will be interactive with audience polling and look at the benefits of digitalisation and why more companies are not adopting digitalisation faster given the proven economic benefits. Speakers will include early adopters and companies scaling solutions with the discussion covering typical barriers to adoption and how to overcome them.

Panel 2 – Where are we on making trade cheaper, faster, simpler? A progress update

Overview:
This session will provide a high-level overview of delivery on the Roadmap to Digitalise UK Trade, Plan for Growth and Trade and Corporate Digitalisation Taskforces as well as developments at B20, ASEAN, APAC, World Trade Organization, ICC Digital Standards Initiative and Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting.

Coffee and Networking Break

Panel 3: Missing architecture; improving access to finance

Overview:

This session will provide progress updates, key challenges and next steps on the development of invoice registries as a means to prevent fraud, reduce tax evasion and open new marketplaces for SME working capital. It will also provide an update on regulatory reform and the implementation of recommendations to streamline Know Your Customer processes.

Panel 4: Connecting financial and physical supply chains

Overview:

This session will provide insights, progress updates, learnings and next steps on customs digitalisation and the importance of integration with financial supply chains. The discussion will cover the UK HM Revenue and Customs sandbox, the Joint Customs Consultative Committee Task and Finish Group and potential use of e-invoices as transferable records.

Lunch and Networking Break

Panel 5: Digital Trade Superhighways

Overview:

This session will be the formal launch of a new ICC United Kingdom/International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation report setting out a vision for upgrading international trade corridors starting with the backbone of global trade; the maritime silk route and transatlantic trade corridor. The discussion will highlight what trade transactions will look like, profile real world use cases, current infrastructure and ecosystem gaps, findings and proposed next steps.

Coffee and Networking Break

Panel 5: Building new trade technology sectors

Overview:

This session will explore the opportunities and challenges of defining and developing emerging trade technology sectors and solution ecosystems. The discussion will cover the findings of the 2025 ‘Lookbook’ report published by the UK government and the experience from France.

Closing Remarks 

• Chris Southworth, Secretary General / Chair, International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation

Networking Drinks & Refreshments