The Covid-19 pandemic has created more disruption and upheaval for the world’s business community than any other crisis in living memory. Issues that had been dominating trade relations prior to the pandemic, such as tariffs and trade wars, were overshadowed by supply chain disruptions, enforced shutdowns and quarantines. For many businesses, the pandemic has been devastating. For others, new opportunities have arisen including the acceleration of digitalisation.
The pandemic hasn’t changed trade forever, but it has compressed into the space of 1-2 years, events that would have taken 10-20 years to emerge.
As we move forward, the coming months and years are likely to present a period of change and opportunity for businesses. Outside of questions concerning the evolution of the pandemic itself, businesses are asking whether recent trends will become permanent.
In a series of four live webinars, we brought together panels of experts to help identify current trends and to debate the key issues facing businesses during and after the pandemic.
Atradius live events: Covid-19 crisis
|
|
| Atradius Chief Market Officer, Andreas Tesch, was the host of our virtual event series. With a wealth of experience in risk and the issues facing international trade Andreas is well placed to share his insights into the key areas discussed. | The event moderator for each of the webinars in this series was Daisy McAndrew. She is an English journalist and former Economic Editor and Chief Political Correspondent for ITV News. Now a freelance presenter, Daisy’s knowledge of world finance and economics makes her an excellent interviewer, skilled at promoting stimulating debates. |
Event #1: How Covid-19 changed global trade forever
The panel discussed how Covid-19 has impacted trade. They looked at how the crisis created a stark divide between business winners and losers, and explored how trends such as the rapid acceleration of digitalisation are providing new opportunities for growth.
- Ian Goldin - Oxford University Professor of Globalisation and Development
- Emma Marcegaglia, CEO and Chair of Marcegaglia Holdings S.p.A
- Johan Melander, Credit Director Electrolux APAC & MEA
- Edwin Kuhlman, Head of Atradius Global Commercial Underwriting Team and Head of Underwriting, The Netherlands
|
|
|
Event #2: How trade relationships and tariffs are affecting trade worldwide
The panel debated the ways that geopolitics and cultural issues can influence trade. They looked at the potential for growth presented by trade agreements, the importance of Covid-19 vaccines and the damaging prospect of vaccine protectionism.
- John Hulsman - President of John C. Hulsman Enterprises
- Lesley Batchelor - Director of Export Boot Camps
- Gordon Cessford - Regional Director for Atradius in North America
|
|
|
Event #3: The impact of digitalisation on trade
The panel identified some of the major trends in digitalisation. These include ecommerce, big data in credit management, Everything as a Service and the impact that the Internet of Things presents can have on supply chain management.
- David Rowan – Founding editor of WIRED’s UK edition and early-stage investor in technology start-ups
- Jean-Marc Noël – Founder and Managing Director of Trusted Shops
- Frédéric Wittemans – Executive Director International Credit at Ingram Micro
- Dirk Hagener – Atradius Director of Strategy and Corporate Development
|
|
|
Event #4: De-globalisation – a new way to trade, but will it stick?
The panel discussed how the trade interruptions of the Covid-19 crisis are accelerating changes to supply chains and causing many businesses to rethink where they manufacture and where they sell their goods and services.
- Dr Linda Yueh - Leading economist on global trends, Fellow in Economics, St Edmund Hall, Oxford University and Adjunct Professor of Economics, London Business School
- Valter Viero - Assistant Financial Director, Acciaierie Valbruna SpA
- Bart Jan Koopman - Director of evofenedex, the Dutch trade association
- Eric den Boogert - Managing Director Asia, Atradius
|
|
|