360tf Global Trade Finance Summit 2026

Registrations Closed

Thank you for your overwhelming interest in the 360tf Global Trade Finance Summit 2026.

Registrations are now officially closed. We appreciate your enthusiasm and look forward to welcoming all delegates at the summit.

For any queries, please contact us at gtfs@360tf.trade

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM – Registration

9:20 AM – 9:30 AM – Opening Remarks

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Welcome Address by: 360tf Leadership

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Keynote Address By: Chief Guest

10:20 AM – 10:50 AM – The Changing Geometry of Global Trade: Economic Fragmentation and India’s Strategic Opportunity

Key Discussion Points:

Evolving Global Trade Landscape: Shift from globalisation to regional blocs, friendshoring, and corridor-driven trade flows.
Macroeconomic Forces Shaping Trade: Impact of global growth divergence, inflation, and interest rate cycles on trade and capital movement.
Emerging Trade Corridors: Rise of new routes and partnerships, including India–Middle East–Europe and South-South trade linkages.
India’s Strategic Positioning: Opportunities and challenges for India to strengthen its role across exports, supply chains, and trade finance ecosystems.

10:55 AM – 11:25 PM – Tea Break

11:25 AM – 11:55 PM – Doing business in a Fragmented World: Navigating Growth, Liquidity and Cross-Border Expansion

Key Discussion Points:

The impact of shifting global trade dynamics, supply chain realignments, and economic uncertainty on SME growth and working capital cycles
The evolving financing and treasury needs of SMEs across exports, supply chain expansion, and cross-border trade operations
Access to liquidity, trade credit, and alternative financing solutions for scaling businesses in emerging and growth markets
The role of digital trade ecosystems, fintechs, financial institutions, and strategic partnerships in enabling SME competitiveness and global market access

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – From Risk to Liquidity: How FIs are Navigating Cross-Border Trade and SME Financing in a Fragmented World

Key Discussion Points:

Impact of global uncertainties on bank liquidity management and trade finance flows
How banks are helping clients navigate FX risk, payment uncertainty, and supply chain disruptions in cross-border trade
Treasury, risk, and capital allocation considerations for financial institutions
Role of global financial hubs (including GIFT City) in enabling efficient trade and treasury ecosystems

12:35 PM – 12:55 PM – Fireside Chat

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Networking Lunch

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Unlocking Cross-Border Capital: Enabling NRIs & Global Investor Access into India

Key Discussion Points:

Barriers in cross-border investing: tax, compliance, repatriation
Structuring efficient routes into India
Investment behaviour of global individuals
Role of IFSC/GIFT City in simplifying access

2:35 PM – 3:05 PM – The New Economic Order: Competing for Growth in a Multipolar World

Key Discussion Points:

Are we entering a structurally different global economic era or merely a temporary phase of fragmentation?
How macroeconomic trends, including demographics, productivity, inflation and technology, are reshaping global competitiveness.
The interplay between industrial policy, economic resilience and long-term growth.
India’s growth outlook amid changing geopolitical and economic dynamics.
Strategic considerations for businesses, financial institutions and policymakers navigating long-term uncertainty.

3:10 PM – 3:40 PM – Strengthening Trade Finance Ecosystems: The Evolving Role of Development Finance and Institutional Capital

Key Discussion Points:

The growing role of institutional and development capital in supporting global trade liquidity amid economic fragmentation and market volatility
How DFIs and institutional investors are bridging financing gaps across emerging markets, supply chains, and SME trade ecosystems
Risk mitigation and capital mobilisation through guarantees, blended finance, co-financing models, and structured trade solutions
Leveraging digital infrastructure and trade platforms to enhance transparency, scalability, risk visibility, and capital deployment efficiency

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM – From Entrepreneur to Institution Builder Creating Businesses That Endure

4:20 PM – 4:50 PM – From Trust to Trade (T2T): Why Governance Matters More Than Ever

Closing Remarks & Vote of Thanks

4:55 PM – 5:00 PM – By: 360tf Leadership

5:00 PM Onwards – High-Tea

Chief Guest

Shri K. Rajaraman has assumed the responsibility of the Chairperson of IFSCA on 1st August 2023, after serving for nearly 35 years in various leadership roles in Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu. Prior to joining IFSCA, he served in the Indian Administrative Service till his retirement in August 2023 as the Secretary to Government of India in the Department of Telecommunication.

Starting his career as a Design Engineer in BHEL, Trichy, he had held various administrative positions in the areas of Investment Promotion, Foreign Direct Investment, Public Sector Undertakings, Industrial Infrastructure, VAT Administration, etc. He also served as Additional Secretary, Investment, IER and Administration in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.  

Industry Insights

Shri Dr. Ajay Sahai is the Director General & CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), established in 1965 by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. He has played a significant role in promoting India’s exports and has been instrumental in increasing the organisation’s membership from 7,200 to about 35,000 over the years. Dr. Sahai has a background in customs and excise, and he has been recognised for his contributions to the Foreign Trade Policy and GST reforms, which have made India’s export environment more favorable for businesses.

Mr. Vimal Shah is the Chairman of Bidco Africa, East Africa’s leading manufacturer of Edible Oils, Hygiene and Personal Care products, and Food & Beverages, with over 60 brands across 18 African countries. Born in Kenya in 1960, he founded Bidco in 1985 and has since led its expansion into Uganda, Tanzania, and Madagascar, forging global partnerships with Wilmar, Land O’Lakes, and Monarch Beverages. He has served as Chairman of KAM, KEPSA, and EABC, and was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011.

IFSCA & GIFT City Team

Shri Bharath Shivappa is President and Chief of Markets at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), leading global market development, client acquisition, strategic partnerships, and international brand positioning. He plays a key role in strengthening institutional participation, expanding financial services clusters, and positioning GIFT City as a leading global financial hub.

With over two decades of experience across financial services, asset and wealth management, fintech, technology, and capital markets, Bharath brings extensive expertise in cross-border market development. Prior to GIFT City, he served as Head of Global Business Development at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), driving international client acquisition and partnerships. He has also held leadership roles at Deloitte, MIDAS (UK), Vodafone, and JSA Law. Bharath completed the Senior Management Program at IIM Ahmedabad and holds an MBA from SCMS Cochin School of Business.

Shri Dr. Dipesh Shah is Executive Director, Development and International Relations, at IFSCA, with over 23 years of experience in International Business, Project Development, and Corporate Law & Policy. He has driven the development of GIFT City since 2008, establishing India’s first Multi Services SEZ and only International Financial Services Centre, and enabling banks now transacting over USD 50 Billion. He holds a Ph.D. in IFSC, an MBA from Nirma University, and is a Chartered Secretary (ICSI, India & ICSA, UK).

Shri Supriyo Bhattacharjee is Executive Director, Department of Banking Regulation and Development, with additional charge of Payments and Settlement Systems at IFSCA. A former central banker, Mr. Surpiyo joined the Reserve Bank of India in 2002 and retired as General Manager in 2023, working extensively on Payments and Settlements, foreign exchange reserve management, and forex market regulation. He drafted the IFSCA (Payment Service Provider) Regulations, 2024, and currently leads the rollout of the Foreign Currency Settlement System (FCSS) for real-time USD transactions between IFSC entities.

A seasoned financial services leader with over 22 years of global experience, Shri Ashutosh has built expertise across international banking, strategy, policy, debt capital markets, and financial ecosystem development. As a founding member of IFSCA, he played a pivotal role in establishing GIFT IFSC as India’s first global financial centre, driving expansion across banking, aviation, shipping, treasury, and technology-led sectors. Prior to IFSCA, he held senior leadership roles in strategy, business development, debt capital markets, and institutional banking with a leading Indian private bank across Asia.

Speakers

Dr. Abhishek Jajoo is Founder & Chairman of AJMS Group, a multinational consulting and technology firm with 700+ professionals across 14 cities in 10 countries, advising governments, financial institutions, and listed entities. With 15+ years of experience, he specialises in AI Governance, RegTech, ESG Compliance, and Agentic AI adoption. He actively engages with DIFC, VARA, and Dubai Chamber ecosystems. He also leads multiple AI ventures, serves on the GAIP InsureTek Board, and has received prestigious recognitions including UAE Superbrand, Dubai AI Seal, Future 100, and the Transformational Leadership Award 2025.

Ms. Betul Kurtulus began her career at Anderson Consulting and entered the factoring industry in 1992. She brings over 30+ years of extensive experience in the factoring sector. Prior to joining FCI in 2018, she served as a member of the FCI SCF Committee and FCI Marketing Committee. Her previous role was General Manager (since 2014) and Board Member at Strateji Faktoring in Turkey, where she oversaw all operational areas.

Before Strateji Faktoring, Betül held positions at Toprak Banking Group. She also served as a Board Member of the Association of Financial Institutions of Turkey. Betül holds a BA degree in Business and Economics from the University of Marmara, Turkey.

Ms. Kurtuluş is the Deputy Secretary General at FCI. She previously held the positions of Director of Strategic Marketing & Business Development, and Regional Director CEE, SEE & Middle East within FCI.

Mr. Dilip N Massand serves as the Head of Global Partnerships focused on managing strategic alliances to drive capital growth and market expansion. He also serves as Senior Executive Officer of Argentem Creek Middle East (ACME), responsible for business management and operations oversight in the region. He has over 30 years of emerging markets experience across advisory services, litigation management, and cross-border restructuring.

Prior to joining Argentem Creek, Mr. Dilip co-founded and led Phoenix Advisors, and previously served as Managing Director of SAS Asset Recovery. He began his career as General Counsel of his family’s engineering and construction group, leading its expansion into the Middle East and India. A Juris Doctor from New York Law School, he serves on several advisory boards and is a Senior Advisor to Alvarez & Marsal and Generation Transition Advisors.

CA Gaurave Agarwal is the Executive Vice President at Al Ain Farms with extensive leadership experience in finance, strategy, and business transformation across multinational FMCG organizations. He has led long-term value creation initiatives spanning route-to-market, revenue growth management, integrated business planning, and change management. His expertise includes financial strategy, M&A, treasury, supply chain, commercial excellence, risk management, and business partnering. He has successfully driven profitable growth, operational excellence, and organizational transformation while leading cross-functional teams and strategic stakeholder engagements.

Ms. Mamba is a seasoned executive with over 20 years’ experience in financial services in Southern Africa with a focus on strategy development and execution, business development, due diligence, financial analysis and structuring and investment management. At the Trade & Development Bank Group, she serves as a Chief Executive Officer. In addition to her primary responsibilities in leading the Asset Management SBU, she also drives the Group’s targeted initiatives in providing innovative solutions for SMEs. Prior to joining TDB Group, Ms. Mamba has served in management capacities at Deloitte Consulting, Global Environment Fund, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. She currently serves as Board Member & Chair of the Investment Committee for the Global Innovation Fund’s Growth Initiative and a Member of the Investment Committee of AgDevCo. In the past she has served as Board member for international industry associations (Africa Venture Capital Association, Emerging Markets Private Equity Association).

Mr. Nrupesh Shah is the Chairman and Founder of Nrups Consultants LLP, a leading family office based in Ahmedabad managing assets exceeding US$500 million. Recognised as one of India’s youngest Chartered Accountants in 1986 at the age of 21, he has built an illustrious career in wealth management, strategic investments, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, debt funding, and corporate advisory. Under his leadership, Nrups Family Office has consistently delivered exceptional long term investment performance. He also serves as Managing Director, Corporate Affairs at Symphony Ltd., where he played a pivotal role in transforming the company into a global market leader. A respected speaker, panellist, and columnist, Mr. Shah frequently shares insights on capital markets, economics, governance, and investments, while actively supporting philanthropic initiatives in education and healthcare.

Mr. Pankaj Jain is a former Secretary to the Government of India with over three decades of experience in governance, public administration and strategic policy. As Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (2021 to 2025), he led key sector reforms and steered policy during periods of global energy market volatility. Earlier, at the Ministry of Finance, he played a pivotal role in establishing NaBFID, NARCL and designing the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS). A 1990 batch IAS officer of the Assam Meghalaya cadre, he has also served in advisory roles with DFID, UNIDO, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Asian Productivity Organisation. An MBA from FMS Delhi, Cost Accountant and SRCC alumnus, he currently serves as Member Secretary of the Eighth Central Pay Commission.

Mr. Peter Mulroy is the immediate past Secretary General of FCI. Peter brings with him extensive experience from his distinguished career, which spans over three decades.

Throughout his career, Peter has held key roles at prominent financial institutions, including CIT Group Commercial Services, SunTrust Bank, and Bank of America. During his decade-long tenure at FCI, he made significant contributions to the global expansion of factoring and supply chain finance, establishing himself as a pivotal figure in the industry.

Mr. Qamar Saleem is the SME Finance head, the world’s leading center for knowledge exchange, good practice promotion and public-private dialogue in this field. Prior to this role, Mr. Qamar was the Manager Financial Institutions Group Advisory Services for Asia and Pacific driving leading a large team across 20 countries aimed at providing integrated investment/advisory client solutions across mainly MSME, Gender, Climate, Digital, Housing, Trade, and Supply Chain Finance. Qamar has been with IFC since 2012 and served in his previous roles as global technical lead for SME and Supply Chain Finance as well as regional SME Banking lead for EMENA.

Qamar has 30+ years of global financial services experience having worked across 60+ countries internationally managing large business lines while leading multi-cultural and cross-functional teams. Prior to joining IFC, Qamar was associated with international organizations like HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank as well as large regional banks.

Mr. Rajesh Somani, a visionary leader with over three decades of expertise in international commodities trading and has held leadership role as MD & CEO at global firms such as Aditya Birla Global Trading (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Global Smart Comtrade Pte Ltd, driving multi-billion-dollar revenues and pioneering strategic growth across markets. His accolades include the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Leadership (Aditya Birla Group), the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award and Member of the Year award by ICAI, New Delhi in First International Leaders Awards in 2018 in Abu Dhabi, underscoring his transformative impact.

Dr Rumki Majumdar is a Business Economist, and has expertise in macroeconomic and industry research, developing thought leadership, and economic forecasting using statistical and econometric methods. Over the past 18 years, she has published over 100 thought leader reports in business and academic journals. She has participated in several debates and discussions in various media channels and global forums, such as G20 and Global Trade Review, and speaks often to CXOs at client and leadership events.

In the past, she has worked as an economist supporting the Chief Economist of Deloitte US and the US Chief Economist of Deutsche Bank, New York. She also worked with Dr Shashanka Bhide (an ex-MPC member of the RBI) and for the erstwhile Planning Commission during her stint in NCAER. She has a PhD in industrial economics from the Department of Management Studies, the Indian Institute of Science.

Ms. Shraddha Bhandari is the Founder of Confluence Consultants, a Dubai-based geopolitical risk and market entry advisory firm, and previously founded Intelligentsia Risk Advisors. She advises governments, investors, MNCs and tech firms on geopolitical risk, cross-border investments and regional expansion, particularly in the India-UAE and wider GCC corridor.

She has also held senior leadership roles including Asia-Pacific Geopolitical & Security Intelligence Lead at Barclays Bank and Practice Head – Public Policy & Strategic Affairs at Orkash Services. A graduate of the London School of Economics, she is a regular contributor to leading publications and a sought-after speaker at global forums and podcasts.

Mr. Sidharth Mehta is the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Department of State Development, South Australia, based at the Australian Consulate General in Dubai. Since joining the department in 2020, he has played a key role in advancing South Australia’s trade, investment and business engagement across the MENA region, while also overseeing the India portfolio until 2024. Previously, he spent eight years with the South African Consulate General in Dubai, promoting bilateral trade and investment. Before entering government service, he worked in business intelligence and consulting across sectors including finance, energy and oil and gas. With over 18 years of international experience, he holds a Master’s degree in Business Economics and professional certifications in International Trade and Sustainable Investment Promotion.

Mr. Sumit Bhojwani is Founder & Managing Director of Spire International LLC, with over 20 years of experience in FMCG distribution, international trade, corporate finance and strategic business growth. Founded in 2004, Spire International has grown into a leading FMCG distribution and export company, serving airlines, hotels, restaurants, cafés, catering companies and modern retail across 40+ countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, with regional offices in Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and the Maldives. He also serves as a business partner in Bombay Chowpatty, LTC, Toss & Co. and Quality Wipes. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, Accounting and Information Systems, with a minor in Economics, from Indiana University Bloomington, USA. His areas of expertise include corporate finance, liquidity and cash flow management, working capital optimisation, business resilience, international trade, global supply chain strategy and strategic business growth.

Mr. Suresh Swamy is a Senior Partner at Price Waterhouse & Co LLP with over 27 years of experience in direct tax and regulatory advisory. He leads the Asia Pacific Asset & Wealth Management Tax practice and heads the GIFT City (IFSC) office, advising global asset managers, banks, fintechs, and shipping and leasing businesses on cross-border investments and IFSCA regulations. A published author and regular international speaker, he is also recognized for driving innovation, leadership, and collaboration across Asia-Pacific markets.

Mr. TS Shankar brings over three decades of experience in financial services across banks, non-banks, and FinTechs, and currently serves with BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade), a 103-year-old advocacy organisation for Trade and Payments. Based in Singapore, he leads BAFT’s remit across Asia Pacific, having held global and regional leadership roles in sales and product development across the US, Singapore, and India. He also invests in and advises FinTechs, closely following developments in transaction banking.

360tf Leadership

Overview

About the Summit

The 360tf Global Trade Finance Summit 2026, hosted at GIFT City, is envisioned as a high-impact platform that brings together global leaders, policymakers, and trade finance experts to explore critical challenges and emerging opportunities in international trade.

Summit Objectives

Foster Cross-Border Collaboration – Enable dialogue among exporters, importers, financial institutions, and regulators across geographies to address global trade priorities.
Explore Emerging Opportunities – Highlight new models, technologies, and partnerships driving innovation in trade and trade finance.
Contribute to the Global Trade Finance Conversation – Facilitate thought leadership and exchange of best practices with active participation from key international and regional stakeholders.

Why GIFT City as the Host Venue

As India strengthens its role in global trade, GIFT City offers a uniquely integrated financial ecosystem that enables efficient cross-border financial operations.
The summit provides a timely opportunity for global institutions to engage with the regulatory, infrastructural, and digital capabilities available through GIFT City.
Hosting the summit here encourages deeper global regional engagement in a setting designed for international finance and innovation.

For any queries or registration, contact: gtfs@360tf.trade