Payments at APAC Speed

Asia Pacific is redefining cross-border and real-time payments. While market volatility persists, data is becoming more actionable as treasurers prepare for faster decisions, sharper liquidity strategy and another year of intense regional momentum.

Babcock International Group has rapidly overhauled its global cash management. Since completing its core project in early 2023, the group has cut complexity, unlocked visibility over 95% of global balances, and reshaped treasury's role at the heart of the business.

Ericsson has taken a clear step in integrating sustainability across its financial operations, converting a long-standing umbrella guarantee facility with BNP Paribas into a sustainability-linked structure. The move not only strengthens its climate commitments but also signals a broader shift in how trade finance can contribute to the net-zero transition.

Nippon Express has transformed its approach to cash management, consolidating 96 local bank relationships in Europe into a single structure with BNP Paribas. The project gives treasury sharper visibility, stronger governance, and a seat at the centre of the group's worldwide ambitions.

How can treasurers manage the impact of continuing uncertainty and re-alignment in the trade space? Barclays' Jaya Vohra, Global Head of Trade and Working Capital, and Michaël Hache, Head of Trade Finance, Export Finance, Working Capital, France & Benelux, investigate the options and opportunities.

In today's world, liquidity management is a key area of focus for corporate treasurers and institutional investors alike. Julien Fouré (Carrefour), Stéphanie Akhal, and Daniele Curci (Amundi) explore how various liquidity solutions can help corporates manage cash efficiently within a robust, risk-controlled framework. This candid discussion covers current market trends, short-term investment strategies, and practical ways to optimise cash while maintaining a focus on safety and performance.

Didier Vandenhaute (PwC) and Jan Dirk van Beusekom (BNP Paribas) reflect on the 10th anniversary of the Journeys to Treasury (JTT) report, exploring its evolution and the key moments that have shaped its status as a cornerstone of the European treasury community. The conversation also covers this year's report highlights, including emerging topics capturing treasurers' attention. Didier and Jan Dirk share insights on how JTT continues to provide foresight to assist treasurers in navigating change, and hints at the initiative's next steps in supporting European finance professionals.

For many mid-size companies, a TMS is neither necessary nor affordable — and that's often where the discussion ends. However, the value of equipping the treasury team to the same high standard as the rest of the organisation should not be underestimated, says Matthias Varenkamp (Cobase). Doing so, he believes, provides a clear path to future success. In this podcast, Matthias explains how achieving this level of capability is now both technically and financially more attainable for a much broader range of businesses.

In this episode, Danielle Johnson (Westpac) joins Vibhor Narang and Danielle Sharpe (Standard Chartered) to discuss the impact of the ISO 20022 transition on corporate and bank clients. They explore how multinational corporations and financial institutions are utilising ISO 20022 to revolutionise their operations, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges involved.

My Life in Treasury. Matt Grundy, Head of UK Treasury at Capital One Europe talks to TMI about the pressures, prospects, and possibilities he encounters within the UK subsidiary of this US financial giant.