21 - 23 Oct 2025
The 2025 AGM will be hosted by Export Development Canada in Ottawa from 21-23 October.
The global agenda for the week can be found in the Agenda Tab above
EVERYONE REQUIRES A VISA OR ETA (except USA), to enter Canada.
Please check the document found within the Venue, Visa & Logistics Tab above, which will provide you with useful tools and information
| Global Agenda |
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Timings are provisional - agenda will be updated with exact times over the coming weeks
14:30-16:30
In-person meeting of the Berne Union Management Committee
This meeting is only for members of the BU Management Committee
16:00-18:30
Fairmont Château Laurier
18:00-20:30
Welcome Reception hosted by EDC
The dress code for the Welcome Reception is business casual
Fairmont Château Laurier
Tuesday 21th October
08:00 onwards
Fairmont Château Laurier
09:00 -17:00
Meeting of the ST Committee
This meeting is only open to members of the ST Committee
09:00 -17:00
Meeting of the ECA Committee focusing on overall business trends, organisational updates and themes relating to ECA policy
This meeting is only open to members of the ECA Committee
18:00 - 19:00
09:00 -17:00
Plenary Meeting including macro themes and internal BU affairs (initiatives, elections, etc.)
This meeting is open to All Members
18:30 - 23:00
Gala Dinner will be hosted by EDC
The dress code for the Gala Dinner is business
Canadian Museum of History
09:00 - 17:00
Full Day session for PC Committee Members
This meeting is only open to members of the PC Committee
09:00 - 17:00
Full Day session for MLT Committee Members focusing on overall business trends, organisational updates and current topics
This meeting is only open to members of the MLT Committee
20:00 - 23:00
The dress code for the Farewell Party is business casual
National Arts Centre
10:00 - TBC
EDC will offer self-booked excursions in Ottawa - details will be shared in due course.
| TUE: ECA | Download meeting agenda |
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Tuesday 21 October: ECA Committee Meeting
09:00-09:05
09:05-10:05
New delegates to the meeting, organisational, operational and policy updates
Member to member discussion
10:05-10:45
Interactive member-to-member discussion supported by a presentation on member data
10:45-11:15
11:15-12:45
a. The Other Side of the Table: ICC Bankers’ Perspectives
TBC
b. ECA Marketing and Business Development
TBC
c. Managing Trade Barriers through ECA Support
TBC
12:45-14:00
14:00-15:30
15:30-15:45
15:45-16:30
Where do you draw the line between promoting exports and ensuring meaningful, positive impact in the host country? Is doing “no harm” sufficient or should ECAs go further? This quick-fire panel discussion will explore how ECAs assess and balance the dual objectives of supporting national exports while contributing to sustainable development abroad.
16:30-16:45
This session will provide a consolidated overview of the key insights, lessons learned, and proposed follow-up actions from the two recent ECA Committee workshops. Participants will reflect on common themes emerging from the Fraud Workshop in London and the Digitalisation Workshop in Hamburg, with a focus on strengthening collaboration, enhancing operational resilience, and identifying opportunities for future joint initiatives.
16:45-17:00
17:00-17:10
| TUE: ST | Download meeting agenda |
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09:00-09:15
09:15-10:30
ST business trends
Tour de table and business trends discussion
10:30-11:00
11:00-11:40
Explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionising the export credit insurance landscape, from
underwriting and risk assessment to fraud detection and customer engagement. This keynote will unpack
the strategic implications of AI-driven decision-making and what it means for the future of short-term
export credit.
Presentation by a representative of Infosys tbc
11:40-12:40
In this panel discussion, leading export credit insurers share real-world experiences of integrating AI into
their operations, highlighting not just the gains, but the complexities, limitations, and hard lessons
learned along the way. As the hype around AI grows, this session offers a grounded look at what’s truly
working, what’s not, and where the real value may lie for the industry
Session facilitate by ST Vice Chair:
12:40-14:00
14:00-15:00
Three parallel discussion streams focusing on products, innovation and regulation, led by Young Professionals of the industry. Topics under consideration:
A. Product Innovation and Digitalization-Cover for New Economy and Service Industries
B. Single risk
C. Digitalised Anti-Fraud Practices in Credit Insurance - From Predictive Analytics to Collaborative Governance
15:00-15:30
15:30-17:00
Discussion in two parts, will bring together perspectives of export credit insurers and exporters to explore
how tariffs and broader market uncertainties are reshaping global trade.The first part will focus on the impact of existing and emerging tariffs on trade credit insurance, covering
underwriting practices, claims activity, and methodologies for assessing credit risk and exposure in a
protectionist environment.The second part will feature exporters sharing practical strategies for
managing uncertainty in volatile markets, including the use of trade credit insurance, market intelligence,
and diversification to build resilience and sustain growth.
17:00-17:05
| WED: PLE | Download meeting agenda |
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BERNE UNION AFFAIRS
09:00-09:15
09:15-09:55
09:55-10:15
10:15-10:45
Adapting to megatrends
10:45-11:00
11:00-11:30
An economist's perspective on the megatrends set to transform the global export finance and insurance landscape in the decades ahead.
Keynote
11:30-12:15
What will the export credit insurance industry look like in 10-15 years? Building on the keynote’s vision for global trade, this panel will discuss how BU members can transform their business models to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape.
12:15-13:45
Responding to the challenges of the future
13:45-14:15
Addressing roadblocks to unlock private investments in high-risk markets
Keynote
14:15-15:00
Blended finance offers a powerful tool to channel private investment toward public goals, particularly in emerging economies. Yet, existing risk-sharing models and financial instruments often fall short of unlocking its full potential. How can development and trade finance providers better collaborate and align the capital needed to scale impact?
15:00-15:20
15:20-15:50
Adapting to changing investment priorities
15:50-16:35
Strategies for Critical Minerals Supply Chain Access
This panel will discuss how ECAs can support the development of secure and resilient supply chains for the minerals essential to the global green transition and how international collaboration can be fostered in an environment of growing demand and intensifying competition
16:35-16:50
Preview of SM, Astana 2026
16:50-17:00
President's Closing Remarks
| THU: MLT | Download meeting agenda |
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09:00-09:05
09:05-09:15
09:15-10:30
This session will explore the growing politicization of trade, investment insurance, and export credit transactions, the rising use of tariffs and counter-tariffs, and key policy shifts impacting global business. The invited speakers will dive into the short- and medium-term outlook for trade policy, examining the specific regulatory changes on the horizon and implications within the industry. The session will aim to provide a practical and forward-looking discussion amidst an increasingly complex global policy environment.
10:30-10:45
10:45-12:00
Building on the previous macro session, this conversation will dive into how MLT members are adapting to an era where industrial policy, sustainability imperatives, and national interests are reshaping mandates, products, and partnerships. With the rise in ECA involvement within defence, critical minerals, nuclear and other strategic sectors this session will spotlight how private-public collaboration is evolving to meet new geopolitical and policy demands and if/how the private market is adjusting as well.
12:00-12:45
A streamlined roundtable for members to briefly update the committee on key changes impacting their business and recent product developments as well as to comment on trends seen in the Business Trends Report from the Berne Union data.
12:45-14:00
*MLT Technical Panel topic brainstorm for the next meeting in Q1, 2026, at the beginning of lunch lead by Lila Grand, TP Chair and EK Gray, BU Secretariat.
14:00-14:30
Secretariat presentation on new MLT and PRI business, sectoral and regional trends, finishing with a member-to-member discussion.
14:30-15:30
A dedicated Berne Union data presentation on MLT and PRI claims and recoveries followed by a member discussion specific to PRI C&R focused on lessons learned and managing complex claims scenarios as PRI claims have increased over the last few years. Members are invited to discuss current trends from recent or ongoing claims.
15:30 -15:45
14:45-15:45
a. Product Focus: PRI In Practice
This breakout will explore current trends in PRI. Members will share insights on how ECAs and private insurers are structuring long-term cover and adapting risk appetite.
b. Sector Focus: Trends in Transportation Finance
Transportation has consistently been a leading sector for BU members, though the nature of transactions has shifted over time, from large aircraft deals to multi-billion-dollar cruise ships and major shipping projects. This session will look at the current state of the sector, explore short- and long-term outlooks, and consider how underwriting practices may be evolving in response.
c. Nuclear Energy: Challenges and opportunities underwriting nuclear transactions.
This breakout will explore recent nuclear transactions done by members and highlight the challenges and opportunities of underwriting them.
15:45-16:00
Each breakout session will designate one member to provide a five-minute report back on what was discussed and key takeaways.
17:00 -17:10
Meeting Adjourned.
| THU: PCC | Download meeting agenda |
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09:00-09:10
09:10-09:40
Focus on PCC export credit insurance data in the context of wider industry trends
09:40-10:30
Members report on recent business developments - focus on strategic priorities
10:30-11:00
11:00-12:00
Business growth and export financing challenges of SMEs, how to diversify buyers, matchmaking, outreach - shared by EDC's SME Team
12:00-13:00
This session will address wider transfer issues, including fraud
13:00-14:00
14:00-15:00
Members share experience on development / launch / assessment of buyer credit / MLT guarantees
15:00-15:30
15:30-16:30
Relevant industry legislation that our members benchmark
16:30-16:40
Presentations and PCC Members’ Vote
16:40-16:50
Announcing the next PCC meeting in 2026
16:50-17:00
Including feedback session for the next PCC meeting