Businesses eager to navigate the murky waters of international trade can now do it at HSBC's Trade Academy in Singapore.
The academy, which has been running sessions for its customers since March, focuses on providing information on trade regulations, best practices and other trade business advice.
'This is the first formal structured classroom-based training for our customers, and it's timely. Our customers have been looking at expanding into new markets,' said Jonathan Speight, HSBC's head of trade and supply chain in Singapore at the academy's launch yesterday.
To date, the academy has held sessions for about 200 participants for 40 of its clients and is set to add four more courses to its existing two - Overview of International Trade and Introduction to UCP600, a set of regulations governing trade instruments between banks.
These sessions are conducted by HSBC trade staff who undergo an internal accreditation programme, on both technical trade and presentation skills.
Currently, there are four accredited trainers, each with 15 years of experience in trade processes.
'Our customers range quite literally across the board, from very sophisticated companies to firms that are just starting to expand to new markets,' said Mr Speight.
HSBC will launch similar academies at all its offices in the Asia-Pacific over the course of 2008 and 2009.
This service is provided free as a half-day seminar to HSBC customers.
This article was first published in The Business Times on 11 July 2008.
