Илья Покаместов, Член Education & Events Committee IFG, подготовил отчет об историческом Годовом Собрании IFG

Historical moment in International Factors Group and Factoring around the globe. 53rd Annual Conference. Actual issues that matter for factoring professionals in all over the world:

• Harmonization of laws on secured transactions

• New product developments in international Factoring

• The Role of Multilateral Banks in the Receivables Finance Industry

• The rise of independent Factoring in China

• What is the influence of the geopolitical situation on the Industry in Russia and other CIS countries

• Compliance

• Digitization and e-Invoicing

The Annual Meeting was held on this occasion in Austria, beautiful Habsburg’s capital city-Viennavery symbolic for this historical result.

The 53nd IFG Annual Meeting brought together around 150 commercial finance industry professionals from the globe to the location of the Imperial Riding School Vienna. Kind support of local member, as it has been common practice in IFG for many years: well known Raiffeisen Factor Bank made it for us this time.

The IFG Annual Meeting is one of the leading global conference for the Factoring, ABL and receivables finance industry. Participants and very experienced speakers and chair persons come from all continents, from many companies and banks, industry service providers, sponsors and representatives of global financial organizations.

With its traditional welcome cocktail on Sunday night, the 53rd Annual Meeting kicked off with Margrith’s welcome speach.

Day 1 started with the Introductory speech from the IFG Chairman Margrith L?tschg-Emmenegger, who is also Advisor to Malta-based FIMBank. She welcomed all the delegates and started a panel discussion regarding Multilateral Banks Opportunities for the Factoring Industry. Representatives from EBRD, Rudolf Putz and IFC, Nevin Turk, as well as Dr Benedict Oramah, President, Afreximbank, Egypt and one of the consultants from Noor Bank, Maninder Bhandari , United Arab Emirates actively participated.

After the introductory speech, a presentation by Mr Spyridon Bazinas, Senior Legal Officer United Nations on UNCITRAL and the harmonization of Trade Law and Secured transactions, followed by panel with IFG’s Legal Committee on IFG’s role and activities in this area (draft model law/ UNCITRAL Committee...)-that was interesting and promising for future developments and current results of legal harmonization-very important and sensitive topic.

Charles Bryant, Co-Chair of EESPA, the European e-Invoicing Service Providers Association and Erik Timmermans, rep. Secretary General, IFG, got off to a flying start with a short panel discussion in the form of a report about Creating Global Supply Chain Finance Standard Definitions by use of very effective Global SCF Forum initiative. The Industry coming together to speak with One Voice with regulators, government bodies and lawmakers across the globe to develop a consistent and stable operating environment.

The first afternoon opened with the topic - State of the Economy? The outstanding keynote presentation of Ludovic Subran, Chief Economist, Euler Hermes was interesting and interactive.

The first day was wrapped up by the formal, but very emotional and historical official Members Meeting which dealt with the in house matters of presenting new Members, reviewing the budget and electing Officers. And, Of course, topic for Extraordinary General Assembly voting-Union IFG – FCI. Unanimous vote result-Both association will become a Union from 1st of January 2016! The Boards of IFG and FCI will work together to create the name, structure and plan to build a new organisation that will fully represent the needs of the combined membership of around four hundred companies in ninety countries. The transition process will commence immediately. Congrats to everybody!!! Good example of cooperation in financial world!

Day two started with a series of three breakout sessions which were each run three times, giving everyone the opportunity to attend each session. The first group, hosted by Kevin Day (HPD) and J?rg Diewald (GE Capital) focused on Impact of Digitization on our Industry-particular about E-invoicing and Big Data. Charles Bryant (European e-invoicing Service Provider Association) animated very active exchange of opinions between participants. The second group, hosted by Marius Savin (FIMBank) and Jan Danielsen (Nordea), Members of the IFG Innovation Com., discussion was about The new IFG Business Proposals for Members in areas such as SCF, Certification, etc., whilst the third, hosted by Steve Box (Bibby Financial Services), Laurent Tabouelle (Codix) and Ren? van Nunen (ABN AMRO Commercial Finance) was devoted to compliance issues on modern stage of development of our industry inside financial sector.

After lunch came a panel discussion about the Factoring Industry in East Europe and CIS countries moderated by Simon Peterman, Chairman CEE, Slovenia. Among Panelists well known: - Roman Ogonkov, CEO, National Factoring Company (NFC), Russia - Alexander Klochko, Managing Director, Priorbank JSC, Belarus -Lubor Prochazka, Executive Director Transaction Banking Division, Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), Romania - Pawel Kacprzak, Head of Factoring, Raiffeisen Polsbank, Poland.

Presentation from Mr Jiaping Han, Executive Deputy Director & Secretary General of CFEC (Commercial Factoring Expertise Committee of CATIS) who kindly explained Factoring specificity in China.

Panel discussion about cooperation, practice and nature of ABL was Moderated by Jeremy Harrison, Regional Group Head, Bank of America, UK. Panelists were represented by: - Jo Benett-Coles, Managing Director, FGI, UK - Adam Johnson, Commercial Leader, Corporate Structured Finance, GE Capital, UK - Jonathan Parfitt, ABN AMRO Commercial Finance, UK

Keeping to the theme of modern developments The World of Crowdsourcing was guided by Mikhail Treyvish, CEO Omnigrade and Board Member of IFG, Russia

And as usual, for great final of Day 2 program, the closing remarks from Bob Lefroy, Business Money Editor, with attendees : Around the world in 45 minutes: Discussion on experiences in their local environment and feedback from break-out sessions.

The second day closed with the IFG Award Night, kindly hosted by Raiffeisen Factor Bank at Kursalon, one of the most exclusive and splendid buildings of Vienna constructed in the mid 19th Century in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Classical music, Waltz-show, IFG awards ceremony and joyfull atmosphere made of this last IFG Award dinner an unforgettable moment.

One Voice, One world, One SUCESS STORY!!!

Networking has always been one of the strategic pillars of IFG’s events. Day three was networking day, discovery of Vienna’s culture. After a bus tour around the Ringstrasse to discover old and modern Vienna, the first stop allowed us to discover the very original Hundertwasser house, the house constructed under the idea of this original Viennese painter who convinced the City of Vienna of the validity of his concept of a forested roof terrace house.

Next stop was at the famous Spanish Riding School where after a drink in the salon of the riding school, we could enjoy a private show of the Spanish horses. The lunch was taken at the entrance of Sch?nbrunn, Habsbourg’s castle. We were guided around the beautiful baroque castle and garden. To finish the visit we tasted and discovered the apple strudel secrets.

The farewell party was organized at the Beethoven House, a Heuriger of Vienna. Accompanied with music and wine tasting, attendees enjoyed the last evening together for the last IFG Annual Meeting of the history.

High level of organization, interesting and practical content, beautiful networking day, high satisfaction score in the survey ratings - that is every year about unique IFG Annual Meetings.

Thanks for being together for many years-great and brilliant new generation of factoring knocking on the door! See you next year at the Annual meeting of new global factoring association. Cooperation is our Future.

Источник: IFG