International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Partners with IE School of Global & Public Affairs and International Trade Centre to Launch Pioneering Trade Master’s Degree The program which focuses on trade, trade finance and trade development, is the first of its kind to be initiated by a multilateral financial trade institution MADRID, Spain, May 2, 2019/APO Group/ -- The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), in collaboration with the IE School of Global and Public Affairs (IE) (https://bit.ly/2H0vCm5) and International Trade Centre (ITC) (www.intracen.org) celebrated the launch of the groundbreaking Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade in Spain. Held at the IE School campus in Madrid, the event featured a panel discussion on the Challenges of Global Trade and International Business Expansion with panelists including Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol (ITFC CEO), Arancha Gonzalez (ITC Executive Director) and Isaac Martin Barbero (Cabify Chief Cities & Communities Officer). The Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade is a co-designed program, originally initiated by the ITFC after it recognized the need for a specialized executive course capable of developing trade professionals with rounded knowledge and expertise in order to thrive in global trade and international business. The program which focuses on trade, trade finance and trade development, is the first of its kind to be initiated by a multilateral financial trade institution. Through collaboration with IE and the ITC, ITFC’s vision of shaping a comprehensive degree has led to the creation of a course built around a ‘blended methodology’, combining live videoconferences and interactive forums, with face-to-face sessions in Geneva and Madrid. This approach enables students to advance their career while simultaneously pursuing a valuable and meaningful education. ITFC CEO, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol commented, “Shaping up a program like the Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade is an answer to the needs of the dynamic and evolving landscape of Trade and Trade Finance. Partnering with prominent institutions like IE and ITC in this Program provides a unique transformational experience that combines academic excellence and practitioners’ leadership with the aim to push the frontier of learning beyond conventional practices and assumptions to new horizons…this is at the core of our mandate of Advancing Trade and Improving Lives.” The Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade has been designed for two complementary profiles: executives and entrepreneurs seeking to expand their global businesses, and professionals working in trade policy and regulation of global trade. This provides each with a unique opportunity to share experiences of addressing the universal challenges of making trade more inclusive and improving livelihoods to lift people out of poverty worldwide. The Dean of the IE School of Global and Public Affairs, Manuel Muniz (https://bit.ly/2LjDSlh), said, “We live in a time of exponential change. This is also evident in the space of trade. The digitalization of value chains, 3D printing and the use of cryptocurrencies or Blockchain technology is radically reshaping trade. We need policymakers and trade practitioners to understand this change, navigate it and make the most of the opportunities it brings.” The Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade program is a notable milestone for ITFC. It is the organization’s first foray into education and a major contribution to encouraging experienced professionals in the industry to take up the challenge of transforming trade. Concluding, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol said, “Witnessing the dynamics of global trade over the years, the need to equip professionals with the essential skills and latest trends is a necessity. Working everyday across the value chain of trade, we could tell the “Why”, but to get a mastery on the “What” and the “How” directed us to partner with IE and ITC; and together we designed the Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade to establish the excellent means to improve transformation of trade executives, professionals and experts”. For more information on the launch of Executive Master in Internationalization and Trade, please click here (https://bit.ly/2DIGoeu). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).Media Contact: E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org Tel: +966 12 646 8337 Fax: +966 12 637 1064 Twitter: @ITFCCORP Facebook: @ITFCCORP Linkedin: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) About the International Islamic Trade and Finance Corporation (ITFC): The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the purpose of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commenced operations in January 2008, ITFC has since consolidated all trade finance businesses that used to be handled by various windows within the IsDB Group. Earning the A1 rating by Moody’s reflects the Corporation’s efficiency in service delivery by responding swiftly to customer needs in a market-driven business environment. Since 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$45 billion of trade financing to OIC Member Countries, making the Corporation the leading provider of trade solutions for OIC Member Countries’ needs. With a mission of being a catalyst for trade development among OIC Member Countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in Member Countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.