360tf Global Trade Finance Summit 2026

Name

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

8:45 AM – 9:30 AM – Registration

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

10:00 AM – 10:20 AM – Keynote Address by: Guest of Honour

10:20 AM – 10:40 AM – Keynote Address By: Chief Guest

10:40 AM – 11:10 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.

11:15 AM – 11:45 PM – Tea Break

11:45 AM – 12:30 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

12:35 PM – 1:20 PM – From Risk to Liquidity : How Banks 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

1:25 PM – 2:30 PM – Networking Lunch

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM – Unlocking Cross-Border Capital: Enabling HNIs & 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

3:20 PM – 3:50 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.

3:55 PM – 4:40 PM – Enabling Trade Resilience Across Emerging Markets: The Evolving Role of DFIs 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

4:45 PM – 5:15 PM – From Aspiration to Institution: Can India Build the Next Global Financial Hub?

Key Discussion Points:

  • What it takes to build a globally trusted financial ecosystem
  • GIFT City’s role in India’s financial diplomacy
  • Deepening bond markets and global investor participation
  • Lessons from global financial centres (Dubai, Singapore, London)
  • India’s opportunity in shaping the next financial order

Closing Remarks & Vote of Thanks

5:15 PM – 5:30 PM – By: 360tf Leadership

5:30 PM Onwards – High-Tea

Chief Guest

Shri K. Rajaraman

Chairman, IFSCA

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.  

Guest of Honour

Shri Sanjay Kaul

Managing Director & Group CEO, GIFT City

Shri Sanjay Kaul is a seasoned 2001-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre and a native of Gujarat, currently serves as the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s pioneering IFSC and a flagship smart city project in Gandhinagar.

With over two decades of rich experience in public policy, infrastructure development, technology, and finance, Mr. Kaul brings a well-rounded and forward-thinking leadership approach. His prior roles include serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, as well as holding key leadership positions in Gujarat, including Managing Director, Gujarat Informatics Limited and Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited

Industry Insights

Shri Dr Ajay Sahai

Director General & CEO FIEO

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

Chairman, BIDCO Group, Kenya

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

President & Chief of Markets GIFT City

Shri Bharath Shivappa is President and Chief of Markets at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), where he leads global market development, client acquisition, and strategic partnerships. He is also the custodian of GIFT City’s marketing and brand strategies, driving international positioning, ecosystem development, and global engagement. His role focuses on strengthening institutional participation, expanding financial services clusters, and enhancing GIFT City’s brand as a leading global financial hub. With over two decades of experience in financial services and market development, Mr. Bharath has worked across asset and wealth management, fintech, technology, and capital markets. Prior to joining GIFT City, he served as Head of Global Business Development at ADGM, where he played a key role in global client acquisition and international partnerships. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Deloitte, MIDAS (UK), Vodafone, and JSA Law, driving cross-border market strategies and client development.

Shri Dr. Dipesh Shah

Executive Director (Development), IFSCA

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

Executive Director, IFSCA

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.

Shri Ashutosh Sharma

Chief General Manager Development, IFSCA

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

Founder & Chairman - AJMS Group

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.

Betul Kurtulus

Deputy Secretary General, FCI

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

Senior Executive Officer at Argentem Creek Partners

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 Gaurav Agarwal

Executive Vice President, Al Ain Farms Group

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. Gloria Mamba

CEO, TDB Asset Management

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. Peter Mulroy

Former General Secretary, FCI

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

Global Head SME Finance Forum, Managed by the IFC

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.

CA Rajesh Somani

Managing Director & CEO, ABGT

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.

Ms. Shraddha Bhandari

Founder, Confluence Consultants

Ms. Shraddha Bhandari is the Founder of Confluence Consultants and Co-Founder & CEO of Intelligentsia Risk Advisors. A specialist in market entry, operational risk, geopolitics, and strategic affairs, she has held leadership roles including Asia-Pacific Geopolitical & Security Intelligence Lead at Barclays Bank and Practice Head for Public Policy & Strategic Affairs at Orkash Services. A London School of Economics graduate, she is a regular contributor to leading journals and a sought-after speaker at global forums, including Harvard, OSAC, and the World Trade Centre Dubai.

Mr. Suresh Swamy

Senior Partner, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP

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

Asia Representative at BAFT, Ex MD, Standart Chartered Bank

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

CA Pankaj Mundra

Co-Founder, 360tf

Mr. Vikram Lodha

Co-Founder, 360tf

Ms. Binita Shah

Director & Head - Global Strategic Alliances and Marketing, 360tf

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

Summit Partners

Corporate Association Partners:

Financial Institution Partners:

Media Partner:

The 2026 Global Trade Finance Summit will be held at the Gift City Club, Radisson.

Address: Zone 3, Plot number 38, Tapas Marg, Gift City Club Rd, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355

Conference Room: Ethos

The Global Trade Finance Summit 2025 (GTFS), organised by 360tf, concluded successfully at GIFT City, Gujarat, bringing together more than 250 participants — including over 50 international delegates, senior policymakers, global financial institutions, corporates, and development finance institutions from over 10 geographies across the global trade finance ecosystem. The one-day summit marked a significant milestone as a first-of-its-kind gathering dedicated to advancing cross-border trade finance from India’s premier international financial hub.

Centred on the theme “India’s Growth Journey: Unlocking Global Liquidity for Inclusive Cross-Border Growth”, the summit served as a platform for thought-provoking discussions on India’s growing role in international trade finance, the importance of unlocking global liquidity, and the need for inclusive financial systems supported by digital innovation and robust regulatory frameworks.

The sessions covered a wide range of pertinent topics, including the evolving India-Africa trade corridor, the transformative role of digital platforms in trade finance, regulatory developments shaping cross-border flows, strategies for enhancing SME access to liquidity, sustainable trade practices, and strengthening collaboration between banks, fintechs, and development finance institutions.

The summit was supported by leading industry partners, with Trade Finance Global (TFG) serving as the official Media Partner, ensuring global visibility and coverage. Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA), FCI joined as Associate Partners, reinforcing the summit’s international reach and collaborative spirit.

Speaking on the success of the summit, CA Pankaj Mundra and Vikram Lodha, Co-founders of 360tf, said:

“The Global Trade Finance Summit 2025 has highlighted not just India’s growth journey, but also the importance of collective action in building inclusive and resilient global trade finance systems. GIFT City has provided the perfect backdrop to convene global leaders and set the stage for long-term collaboration.”

With meaningful dialogue and strong cross-border participation, GTFS 2025 reaffirmed India’s position as a key driver in global trade finance. The summit concluded with a commitment from stakeholders to continue building innovative, technology-led, and inclusive solutions to unlock global liquidity and foster sustainable trade growth.

Watch the full session to revisit the conversations shaping the future of trade finance.