Digital trade: A reality check

In the latest GTR Trade Insights podcast episode, we sat down with some of the leading voices in digital trade - Joshua Kroeker, CEO of Mitigram; Merisa Lee Gimpel, founder of Digital Trade Works and product enablement lead at Enigio; and Patrick DeVilbiss, head of product for trade and supply chain finance at CGI - for a candid discussion on why digital trade adoption has proved so difficult, what the industry got wrong and where the next wave of innovation may come from.  Read the full article: https://www.gtreview.com/magazine/gtr-issue-2-2026/digital-trade-a-reality-check

In the latest episode of GTR Trade Insights, we dive into a critical and timely topic for the trade finance sector. Fraud and financial crime continue to pose significant challenges to the trade industry, impacting corporates, financial institutions, and supply chains globally. On today's show, we are joined by Barclays' Jaya Vohra, global head of trade and working capital product and client management, and Nadia Rahman, head of financial crime for the Investment Bank and UK Corporate bank. They outline the scale of the problem, uncover key challenges, and discuss innovative solutions that can help mitigate these risks effectively.

In the latest episode of GTR Trade Insights, we discuss the vibrant e-commerce market and what its evolution means from a funding perspective. On the show, we are joined by Citi’s Pauline Kontos, global head of working capital advisory, treasury and trade solutions (TTS) and Bob Petrie, director, TTS trade partnerships and innovation. They outline the markets where e-commerce activity is booming, the reasons why, and how banks are rising to the challenge of supporting this emerging segment through innovative solutions. The discussion follows an in-depth article examining the growing role of e-commerce finance – as featured in GTR’s Q3 magazine, the Digital Trade Issue. Episode references 1. Statista: For example, Mexico's online sales increased by almost 25% in 2023. 2. Statista: Global retail e-commerce sales are expected to surpass US$8tn in 2027.   

In this episode of GTR Trade Insights, we explore how banks are developing working capital and supply chain finance (SCF) solutions to help clients manage a business environment defined by high-interest rates and inflation. Adoniro Cestari Neto, global head of trade product and structuring at Citi, explains how companies are adapting not only their physical supply chain approaches, but also their financing strategies. In the conversation, Cestari Neto outlines Citi’s broad range of trade and working capital solutions, and how technological advancements are driving the bank’s receivables finance business.   The discussion follows an in-depth article examining the future of working capital initiatives – as featured in the GTR+ SCF supplement.

In the latest episode of GTR Trade Insights, we speak with Peru’s minister of foreign trade and tourism, Juan Carlos Mathews, about the South American country’s ambitious plans to boost foreign investment in key export sectors and grow trade ties with the UK. In the interview, Mathews outlines Peru’s importance in supply chains for energy, mining and agricultural commodities, noting that the country has grown to become the UK's third-largest supplier of LNG. He also tells GTR that Peru is working to address environmental and social concerns in the mining sector, as the country positions itself as a key supplier of metals, and notes that traditionally strong export sectors such as fruits and vegetables are being bolstered by ongoing investment in port and logistics infrastructure.  GTR’s senior reporter, John Basquill, spoke with Mathews during a Peruvian government trip to London aimed at driving trade and investments ties between the South American country and the UK. To find out more about doing business with Peru, please see promperu.uk.

In this episode of GTR Trade Insights, we explore the future of developing technologies and digital trade and speak with Valeria Sica, the managing director and head of Citi's global trade data, partnership and innovation team.  Sica is at the forefront of trade finance innovation, and in this conversation outlines how Citi’s approach to trade transformation differs from traditional trade finance banking teams. She also provides details of successful collaborations with fintechs and highlights the role of big tech companies in disrupting the trade finance industry. The discussion follows an in-depth article that profiles a number of Citi’s initiatives in this space – as published in the GTR Q3 issue.

In this episode of the GTR Trade Insights podcast, we speak to Chris Cox, Citi’s global head of trade and working capital solutions, about the future direction of trade and trade finance. In the discussion, Cox shares his insights on the post-pandemic trading environment, Citi’s key areas of focus in the trade space and the bank’s efforts and priorities around digitalisation and ESG. The conversation follows an exclusive interview recently published on the GTR site, titled: “Shaping the future of trade” which touches on these, and other themes, relevant to trade now and into the future.

In this episode of the GTR Trade Insights podcast, we welcome an expert guest from J.P. Morgan to discuss how the focus of working capital has shifted once again amid an ever-more challenging global economic and financial landscape. Joining us in the discussion is James Fraser, global head of trade at J.P. Morgan, who provides an insight into corporate cash positions and what working capital strategies should look like in the face of continued supply chain disruption, rising inflation, and rate hikes. He also discusses the results of the latest J.P. Morgan Working Capital Index, which enables companies to benchmark their working capital performance against industry peers. Moderated by senior reporter Eleanor Wragg, this conversation is a follow-up to the latest instalment in the J.P. Morgan/GTR content series, titled “How the working capital conversation is evolving”.

In this episode of the GTR Trade Insights podcast, we speak to two Citi experts about Israel, turning the conversation to the country’s trade prospects and the opportunities it presents to those looking to do business in a well-established hub of high-tech innovation. Kfeir Barkai, Head of Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS) at Citi in Israel, and Ornit Shinar, Global Head of External Innovation and Venture Investing at Citi Innovation Labs, discuss what makes Israel a high-growth market in trade and provide an overview of the nation’s fintech scene. They also outline the range of support that Citi provides, both to multinational corporations setting up shop in Israel, as well as to Israeli-founded start-ups and unicorns as they expand their businesses. This is the latest instalment of a series of podcasts and articles from Citi that uncover some of the practical realities of doing business in, and engaging in cross-border trade with, high-growth, complex markets around the world.

In this episode of the GTR Trade Insights podcast we turn our attention to Mexico, where a rise in nearshoring opportunities, the growing sophistication of manufacturing, and an alignment with social and environmental considerations are driving post-pandemic trade prospects. Joining us in the discussion are Andre Carvalho, Head of Trade, Latin America, Treasury and Trade Solutions at Citi, and Eduardo Allegre, Director & Business Head Trade Working Capital at Citibanamex, who outline some of the factors cementing the country’s status as a flourishing market, including a stronger focus on ESG. Since early 2021, Citi has partnered with GTR on a series of articles aimed at companies wanting to set up in, and engage in cross-border trade with, high-growth, complex markets. In the accompanying podcasts, we speak to the experts behind these articles about what they’re seeing on the ground.