The Saudi capital Riyadh is hosting the twelfth edition of the Saudi Trade Finance Summit on November 6 and 7, 2024, a prominent event bringing together industry leaders, financial experts and policymakers from around the world. The summit aims to explore the future of trade finance against the backdrop of the Kingdom's dynamic economic landscape, shedding light on the latest trends, innovations and challenges in this vital field.

The summit draws more than 150 prominent figures from Saudi government ministries and agencies, international trade organizations, regional and global banks, large, medium and small companies, trade-finance technology providers, as well as insurance and risk-management firms and legal advisory offices. The event serves as a leading platform for discussion and idea exchange around key themes such as boosting economic diversification, developing digital trade finance, and supply-chain financing.

Topics to be discussed over the two-day summit include leading innovations in trade finance, strategies for leveraging supply-chain financing to bolster financial stability, and the adoption of environmental and social governance to support sustainability. Discussions will also focus on initiatives to empower small and medium enterprises through export-capacity support and access to financing, as well as the role of trade finance in ensuring adequate liquidity amid oil price fluctuations.

The summit offers the opportunity to connect with more than 300 experts and decision-makers from sectors including oil and gas, petrochemicals, hospitality and healthcare, opening the door to strategic partnerships that boost innovation and growth. The trade finance sector is expected to see significant growth, with its size projected to reach $134.85 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual rate of 2.63% from 2020 to 2026.