Author: The Digital Trade Outlook

Oct 28 (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and UK Export Finance, the British government’s official export credit agency, signed a memorandum of understanding worth up to $6.8 billion to support British firms in Saudi markets, Saudi state media reported on Tuesday.

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 24, 2025 (EZ Newswire) — For the last few years, the global economy has been experiencing an acute crisis related to the unstable price dynamics of energy resources and the imbalance of supply and demand. There is a shortage of energy resources in many markets. For example, in the European market, there is a shortage of gas, electricity, coal, and petroleum products. Along with the expansion of the package of sanctions and retaliatory measures, the corridor of opportunities for investors and businessmen worldwide is narrowing. Therefore, in these circumstances, it is crucial to find a trading…

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, October 22, 2025 (EZ Newswire) — XDC Network, a blockchain driving innovation in trade finance, recently achieved a major milestone with the listing of its ETP (ticker: XDCN) on Euronext Amsterdam, celebrated with a bell-ringing ceremony attended by key stakeholders and industry leaders. The milestone was achieved in partnership with 21Shares, a global leader in cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs), highlighting their joint mission to connect traditional finance with decentralised networks through innovative investment solutions. The 21Shares XDC Network ETP, listed on both Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam, offers investors regulated, institutional-grade exposure to the XDC Network, a blockchain designed…

SINGAPORE, October 22, 2025 (EZ Newswire) — In a landmark move for the digital trade-finance industry, XDC Ventures, opens new tab, the investment arm of the XDC Network, opens new tab, has announced the acquisition of Contour Network, opens new tab, the leading blockchain-based platform for digitized letters of credit (LCs). Originally backed by a consortium of global banks including HSBC, Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, Citi, DBS, ING, Bangkok Bank, and CTBC Bank, Contour’s revival under XDC Ventures marks a pivotal step in bridging traditional finance (TradFi) with Web3 innovations. This acquisition bolsters XDC Network’s standing as the premier Layer 1 blockchain for…

SINGAPORE, Oct 16 (Reuters) – DBS Group (DBSM.SI), opens new tab, the largest bank in Southeast Asia, said on Thursday that it has partnered with Riyadh-based Banque Saudi Fransi to strengthen trade finance and payment flows between Asia and Saudi Arabia. The partnership, aimed at capitalising on the economic ties within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, will involve collaboration on trade settlement, financing and regional currency-clearing solutions, Singapore-based DBS said in a statement. The agreement comes as economic flows between the GCC and Asian nations accelerate. Trade between Southeast Asia and the GCC reached about $130.7 billion in 2023 and is…

GABORONE, Botswana, October 10, 2025 (EZ Newswire) — Unipesa, opens new tab, a leading African fintech firm, and Mobipay Botswana, opens new tab, a fast-growing payment solutions provider, today announced a strategic partnership to expand cross-border payments and boost financial inclusion in Botswana. Backed by early shareholder Velex Investments, the deal combines Unipesa’s scalable fintech infrastructure with Mobipay’s local expertise to deliver secure and affordable digital financial services. Southern Africa remains one of the most expensive regions for international money transfers. High remittance fees and fragmented payment channels hinder the provision of affordable financial services to individuals and small businesses. By linking…

NAIROBI, Oct 9 (Reuters) – The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa has launched a digital payments system to cut transaction costs by allowing businesses to settle deals in local currencies, it said on Thursday. COMESA, which has 21 member states including Egypt, Kenya and Ethiopia, joins efforts by the African continent to push for local currency payments systems to cut trade costs by eliminating the need to convert local currencies into hard currencies, mostly U.S. dollars, for cross-border payments. The new platform, known as the Digital Retail Payments Platform, is starting off with trials between Malawi and Zambia, COMESA said…

Oct 8 (Reuters) – Trade finance company Raistone, a creditor of First Brands, asked a court on Wednesday to appoint an independent examiner, claiming that as much as $2.3 billion “simply vanished” from the bankrupt U.S. auto parts supplier. First Brands filed for bankruptcy protection last month after its lenders began investigating irregularities in the company’s financial reporting. The company has $11.6 billion in total liabilities, according to the court documents. Its collapse has rattled debt investors and sparked concerns of broader stress in corporate debt markets, especially about rising risks in private credit where lending activity has surged in…