FIMBank officials were recently invited to address students during the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology’s (MCAST) annual financial services conference at the Wignacourt Auditorium at the Institute of Water Technology, Luqa.

The conference, called “Facing New Challenges in the Financial Services Sector”, was organised by the Institute of Business and Commerce.

Charles Wallbank, senior vice-president head of banking operations and Elaine Ancilleri, assistant vice-president head of exports section addressed the students

Ms Ancilleri’s presentation was entitled “An Introduction to Trade Finance” and focused on the various methods of payment used in the finance of international trade and their respective advantages and disadvantages to the importer and exporter.

Mr Wallbank commenced his address with a brief overview of FIMBank activities locally and globally and then went on to his presentation on forfaiting and factoring. This presentation described in detail the theory as well as the practical use of forfaiting and factoring as export financing mechanisms.

Some 80 students and teachers attended the conference.

Following the conference Margrith Lütschg Emmenegger, president of FIMBank plc, donated a copy of her published and internationally acclaimed book “A Guide to Forfaiting” to the school library for the benefit of students who expressed an interest in furthering their knowledge on the subject.