DEVELOPING CREDIT INSURANCE IN AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN UNCTAD/WTO – TUNISIA 23-24 OCTOBER...

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DEVELOPING CREDIT INSURANCE IN AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN UNCTAD/WTO – TUNISIA 23-24 OCTOBER 2000

Transcript of DEVELOPING CREDIT INSURANCE IN AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN UNCTAD/WTO – TUNISIA 23-24 OCTOBER...

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DEVELOPING CREDIT INSURANCE IN AFRICA AND

THE MEDITERRANEAN

UNCTAD/WTO – TUNISIA23-24 OCTOBER 2000

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REGIONAL CREDIT INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR

AFRICA

GRAHAM YOUNG BA BSc PhD FRGS FZS

MANAGING DIRECTOR

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CONSULTING LTD

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APPROACH

• IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION• WHAT INFORMATION• RELIABILITY AND CONSISTENCY• WHY DO WE NEED INFORMATION• WHEN DO WE WANT INFORMATION• HOW DO WE NEED INFORMATION• THE PRESENT SITUATION• WAYS FORWARD

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF

INFORMATION

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

________________________

• TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS DEPEND ON RELIABLE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

________________________

• TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS DEPEND ON RELIABLE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION

• DECISIONS CANNOT BE TAKEN IN AN INFORMATION VACUUM

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

________________________

• TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS DEPEND ON RELIABLE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION

• DECISIONS CANNOT BE TAKEN IN AN INFORMATION VACUUM

• NO INFORMATION MEANS RESTRICTED OR DELAYED OR NO FLOWS

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

________________________

• KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS-

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

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• KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS-

– BANKS AND COMPANIES TO PRODUCE INFORMATION IN CLEARLY SPECIFIED FORMAT AND DETAIL

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

________________________

• KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS-

– BANKS AND COMPANIES TO PRODUCE IN CLEARLY SPECIFIED FORMAT AND DETAIL

– MONITORING OF COMPLIANCE AND, WHERE NECESSARY, ENFORCING

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VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

________________________

• KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS-

– BANKS AND COMPANIES TO PRODUCE IN CLEARLY SPECIFIED FORMAT AND DETAIL

– MONITORING OF COMPLIANCE AND, WHERE NECESSARY, ENFORCING

– ENSURING INFORMATION GENERALLY AVAILABLE IN MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY

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WHAT INFORMATION

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WHAT INFORMATION ________________________

• FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

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WHAT INFORMATION ________________________

• FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

• INFORMATION ON RELEVANT ASPECTS OF LEGAL SYSTEM AND RELATED GOVERNMENT POLICY

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WHAT INFORMATION ________________________

• FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

• INFORMATION ON RELEVANT ASPECTS OF LEGAL SYSTEM AND RELATED GOVERNMENT POLICY

• DETAILS OF COURT JUDGMENTS AND DEBT ENFORCEMENT

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RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF

INFORMATION

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RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF

INFORMATION________________________

• INFORMATION MUST BE

RELIABLE

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RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF

INFORMATION________________________

• INFORMATION MUST BE

RELIABLE

CONSISTENT

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RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF

INFORMATION________________________

• INFORMATION MUST BE

RELIABLE

CONSISTENT

TRANSPARENT

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

• FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

• FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

• TO ESTABLISH BUYER’S STATUS

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

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• RISK ASSESSMENT

– THE CREDITWORTHY BUYER IS ONE WHOM THE UNDERWRITER JUDGES TO BE WILLING AND ABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

– THE CREDITWORTHY BUYER IS ONE WHOM THE UNDERWRITER JUDGES TO BE WILLING AND ABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS

– THE GOOD BUYER IS ONE WHO SHOWS COMMERCIAL MORALITY, GOOD MANAGERIAL CAPACITY, TRADING PRUDENCE, GOOD PAYMENTS RECORD ETC

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

• TO ESTABLISH BUYER STATUS

– IN WHICH SECTOR DOES IT OPERATE?

• PRIVATE

• PUBLIC

• SOVEREIGN

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

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• PRIVATE

• TYPE OF BUSINESS- SOLE TRADER, PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED COMPANY (MULTI-NATIONAL, SUBSIDIARY ETC)

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

• PRIVATE

• TYPE OF BUSINESS- SOLE TRADER, PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED COMPANY (MULTI-NATIONAL, SUBSIDIARY ETC)

• TRADE SECTOR- MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR, WHOLESALER, RETAILER ETC

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

• PUBLIC

– STATUS- STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

• PUBLIC

– STATUS- STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY

– EXPERIENCE- IN TRADE SECTOR

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

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• PUBLIC

– STATUS- STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY

– EXPERIENCE- IN TRADE SECTOR

– SOURCE OF REVENUE

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________• PUBLIC

– STATUS- STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY

– EXPERIENCE- IN TRADE SECTOR

– SOURCE OF REVENUE

– INSOLVENCY

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WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION?

________________________

• SOVEREIGN

– ABILITY TO COMMIT THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT

OF THE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY, AS REGARDS PAYMENT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY

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WHEN DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

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WHEN DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

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• AS SOON POSSIBLE- THE KEY IS FRESHNESS

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HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

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HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

________________________

• READILY ACCESSIBLE

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HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

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• READILY ACCESSIBLE

• READILY AVAILABLE

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HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

________________________

• READILY ACCESSIBLE

• READILY AVAILABLE

• AT ECONOMIC COST

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THE PRESENT SITUATION

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THE PRESENT SITUATION________________________

• GLOBALLY POOR WITH A FEW BRIGHT SPOTS

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THE PRESENT SITUATION________________________

• MAIN PLAYERS

– CREDIT INFORMATION AGENCIES

– ECAs AND COMMERCIALBANKS

– BUYERS AND SELLERS

– IFIs

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THE PRESENT SITUATION________________________

• MISSING PLAYERS

• TOO MANY GOVERNMENTS

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THE PRESENT SITUATION________________________

• WHY TOO MANY GOVERNMENTS ARE MISSING PLAYERS?

• LACK OF POLITICAL WILL

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THE PRESENT SITUATION________________________

• WHY TOO MANY GOVERNMENTS ARE MISSING PLAYERS

• LACK OF POLITICAL WILL

• LACK OF RESOURCES AND/OR TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

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WAYS FORWARD

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WAYS FORWARD________________________

• ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOVERNMENTS’ ATTENTION

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WAYS FORWARD________________________

• ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOVERNMENTS’ ATTENTION

• ATTRACT AND RETAIN IFIs ATTENTION

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WAYS FORWARD________________________

• ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOVERNMENTS’ ATTENTION

• ATTRACT AND RETAIN IFIs ATTENTION

• SOURCE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

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WAYS FORWARD________________________

• INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY ORGANISATION

• V

• REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS

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WAYS FORWARD________________________

• WHO SHOULD OWN/CONTROL/OPERATE?

• OWNERSHIP- THE STATE

• CONTROL- THE STATE (WITH PRIVATE SECTOR ASSISTANCE)

• OPERATE- THE PRIVATE SECTOR

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WAYS FORWARD________________________

• THE EFFECTS OF E-COMMERCE

– WILL BECOME A FORCE IN TIME

– B2B WILL DEMAND INFORMATION – FAILURE TO PROVIDE WILL BE POTENTIAL DISASTER FOR THOSE COUNTRIES FALLING SHORT

BUT-

BEWARE FOR IMMEDIATE FUTURE

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WAYS FORWARD________________________

• PROGNOSIS

AS GOVERNMENTS INCREASINGLY COME TO RECOGNISE THAT FAILURE TO ENSURE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE

WILL BE TO THEIR OWN DETRIMENT, SO WILL THEY TAKE NOTICE AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GAPS.

BUT VERY MANY WILL NEED HELP – BOTH FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL

WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE