80% or more of the USD 25 trillion in annual merchandise trade conducted annually depends on some form of trade financing – including paper-and process-intensive traditional mechanisms, evolving supply chain finance solutions and a range of risk mitigation solutions. While there have been aspirations to digitalize trade financing, for at least three decades, the combination of technological capability, legal recognition, market demand and other enabling factors is just now showing signs of significant momentum. Work by ESCAP, UNCITRAL, ADB, and ICC DSI, along with numerous market players is combining to create the conditions that put the digitalization of trade finance and trade more broadly within reach.

This paper contains 9 case studies which illustrate the range of contexts, transaction types and stakeholders involved in practical, substantive ways in the digitalization of trade financing and international trade. These point to a range of transactions that prove the feasibility of digitizing trade and various forms of trade financing, as well as show critically important progress in digitally enabling compliance against a range of regulatory requirements. Solutions which combine physical and financial supply chain considerations, target financing to underserved SMEs (especially those based in emerging markets), and illustrate the importance of contributions by non-banks, FinTechs and multilaterals add important dimensions to the digitization of trade finance and trade.