Synopsis

The Arab Trade Financing Program (ATFP) is a specialized multi Arab financial institution with a mission to contribute to the development of Arab trade and to the increase of the competitive capabilities of the Arab producers and exporters.

Establishment
ATFP was established in 1989 with a paid up capital of US$ 500 million. The Program’s capital is contributed by 44 shareholders including Arab financial organizations, regional monetary funds, central banks as well as public and private banking institutions.

Domicile
ATFP is domiciled in Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates where it has been granted privileges and immunities pursuant to a special protocol.

Mission & Means

ATFP aims at contributing to the promotion of trade exchanges of commodities of Arab origin through the provision of a financial facility, as well as through extending a number of services tailored to meet the requirements of the Arab exporters and to increase their competitiveness in their existing and potential markets. The Program provides refinancing facilities at convenient costs and suitable tenors for eligible trade transactions through its National Agencies located in the Arab region. Additionally, ATFP avails a wide range of information on Arab trade to all parties engaged in this activity through the Intra Arab Trade Information Network (IATIN) and attempts at promoting Arab trade through the execution of an ongoing program of buyers and sellers meetings in key economic sectors that demonstrate a potential for growth in trade for Arab countries.

Intra-Arab Trade Information Network
IATIN

Cognizant of the fact that the availability of reliable and updated information could be the decisive factor in the successful completion of trade deals, ATFP has through a joint project with the UNDP, and in technical cooperation with the International Trade Center in Geneva, set up the Intra Arab Trade Information Network with the goal of providing relevant information on Arab trade to all parties concerned.

IATIN has its central core at ATFP’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The core is connected to reliable global data banks, in addition to regional focal points being Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Export Promotion Centers in the Arab countries. The focal points feed the necessary updated information on Arab trade and market players in the relevant country to IATIN’s central core which processes the information and avails it to interested parties on an online basis.

Information Services
A wide array of services and data are made available by ATFP on the site with the goal of providing comprehensive information on Arab trade. This includes names of exporters, importers and goods traded. Market profiles on the individual Arab countries are available, and include entry regulations, free trade areas, foreign exchange systems, storage shipping and transportation facilities as well as other logistics information. Trade Statistics for the various Arab countries are also available. Additionally, the trader can make use of an online trade opportunities matching system to post trade opportunities.