The conversation with André Casterman explores how trade finance has moved beyond experimentation and into a phase where adoption is the real test of progress. After years spent building legal and technological foundations, the industry is now focused on proving that digital negotiable instruments, tokenisation, artificial intelligence and stablecoins can scale across markets. As Casterman notes, “we have learned from our mistakes… and engaged regulators to do the appropriate legal upgrade of national laws” . This shift marks a decisive moment where digital trade is no longer a future ambition but an operational reality that needs widespread uptake.Casterman also highlights the growing importance of liquidity and diversified financing. While banks remain central, he argues that long‑term growth will increasingly depend on capital markets and non‑bank lenders, especially for SMEs and open account trade. His view is clear: “This is where the liquidity will come from over time” . With the legal groundwork in place and digital infrastructure maturing, the next phase is about successful implementations that make digital trade the standard rather than the exception.

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