Trade finance reaches $2t in size in Middle East, Asia

With a total size of $8trillion of global trade finance, Middle East and Asia accounts for $2trilion and with the growing awareness this segment of global business continues to be hotspot for the companies working in this business line, an expert at leading trade finance company revealed.

“Being relatively risk-free Islamic trade finance is getting more and more popularity in the Middle East and Asia in specific and globally in general,” Brian J Luck, Director Investment Advisory at Kuwait based Asiya Investments on the sidelines of the 9th Annual World Islamic Funds and Financial Markets Conference (WIFFMC 2013) told The 24X7 News.

Asiya Investments a company with $440million assets under management and a strong presence in Hong Kong, apart from Kuwait and Singapore, is keen on enhancing its share of business in trade finance both in Islamic and conventional segments.

“With the European banks’ gradual pullout from this part of the world, the trade finance is getting more and more lucrative business and Asiya Investments will continue to enhance its portfolio of business whenever and wherever the opportunities arise,” Brian explained.
“Asiya Investments also do business in private equity, public securities in Asia and bespoke deals across the region,” he explained.