Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology held its fourth annual financial services conference earlier this month in the Wignacourt Auditorium

of the Institute of Water Technology, Luqa.

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

This year, as in previous years, FIMBank was invited to address the conference on trade finance. Charles Wallbank, senior vice-president Head of Banking Operations and Elaine Ancilleri, assistant vice-president Head of Exports Section were selected to address the conference on behalf of FIMBank because of their expertise in their fields.

Ms Ancilleri’s presentation – “An Introduction to Trade Finance” – focused on the various methods of payments used in the finance of international trade and their

respective advantages and disadvantages to the importer and exporter.

Mr Wallbank started his address with a brief overview of FIMBank activities locally and globally and went on to his presentation titled “Forfaiting and Factoring”, which 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 and both presentations were well received. Following the conference Margrith Lütschg Emmenegger, president of FIMBank 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.