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Since 2002, Ireland-based eBSI Export Academy has trained its graduates in the fine points of trading internationally and trade finance. Its thousands of graduates hail from 70 countries around the world, and eBSI is the lead partner in delivering a Finance of International Trade Online Certification for emerging market issuing banks of the International Finance Corporation through the IFC FIT Initiative.
Recently, eBSI’s Thomas Smith graciously accepted Webport Global’s invitation to provide background on the academy’s offerings. The following interview is lightly edited for clarity.
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WPG: International trade is a wide-ranging field—with new rules, procedures, customs, etc., to learn for each country. How can one course prepare students to work with different partners in different countries where laws, tariffs, and a host of other things change each time you cross a border?
THOMAS SMITH: No one course can cover every territory or regime. That’s why we focus on ensuring students understand the process of an international trade transaction, which is pretty much the same for every market or territory. We also make sure they know where to go for further information, and what to ask to ensure they get the information they need for their specific target market.
WPG: Who is your typical student?
THOMAS SMITH: We have three ‘typical students’
• Our Trade Finance course, supported by the International Finance Corporation, is the draw for about a third of our students. These students typically are working in the trade finance departments of banks, and seek an internationally recognized qualification in Trade Finance or International Trade. Completion of our Trade Finance course leads to 16 PDUs (professional development units) from the Institute of Financial Services in the UK—which means it covers their PDU requirement for an entire year in a single two-month course. And that makes it extremely valuable for trade bankers seeking specialist recertification. We have trained almost 800 emerging markets bankers to date.
• Our second largest student group is comprised of International Trade Operations specialists working in either exporting SME or trade / logistics operations of a multinational. These students are typically seeking formal certification in International Trade to reflect their practical experience and knowledge, or to further develop in that area.
• Finally there are those seeking to develop careers in International Trade who wish to either complement a business qualification already gained or want to enter the international trade jobs market with a widely recognized qualification from eBSI and the Institute of Export in the UK.
WPG: Is a person who takes course with your organization likely to have some experience in international trade beforehand?
THOMAS SMITH: About two thirds of participants would normally be working in a trade related activity. The remainder will have attained at least two years of business training in marketing or a related business discipline.
WPG: What sort of skills or knowledge do students who study with EBSI get that helps them most in the global marketplace?
THOMAS SMITH: We have an excellent reputation for our Trade Finance course thanks to our collaboration with the International Finance Corporation under the IFC FIT Initiative and our association with the International Chamber of Commerce. So participants would naturally be seeking a high level of Trade Finance knowledge coupled with a good practical understanding of the mechanics of international trade such as export documentation, international contracts including Incoterms 2010 and logistics issues. We also have very good coverage of export marketing and eBusiness and internet marketing.
WPG: Explain a bit about the Trade and Customs Practice course.
THOMAS SMITH: The Trade & Customs Practice course is the core module for trade practitioners. It shows you everything you need to know about the mechanics of getting your goods from A to foreign B, including international sales terms (Incoterms 2010), international contracts, export packaging, logistic options, and customs procedures.
WPG: What sorts of unexpected hurdles might someone new to international trade be faced with that a course in the Finance of International Trade might better prepare the person for?
THOMAS SMITH: Probably the most important aspect of a trade transaction is getting paid. The finance of international trade course takes you in detail through the most secure method of payment in trade, the documentary credit and its workflow. It also covers other popular methods of payment. Finally aspects of trade finance fraud detection and prevention are covered along with financing options for exporters such as factoring, forfeiting, invoice discounting and Bonds and Guarantees.
WPG: How might training with EBSI keep a novice in international trade from making costly mistakes?
THOMAS SMITH: Accreditation as an International Trade Specialist can help you avoid mistakes because you’ll know what you are doing. Furthermore, in the event that something does go wrong, you have a support group of fellow students, specialists and graduates of our course as well as through our WebPortGlobal network which forms an integral part of the International Trade Specialist Accreditation. You will be able to find advice and solutions to most trade related problems – if you react fast enough. Typically following the ITS Course these kinds of errors will be much less likely to happen. And when they do, you will be better prepared to react and resolve problems.
WPG: What else is important for readers to know about the training they might receive from EBSI?
THOMAS SMITH: The International Trade Specialist Accreditation has been developed specifically to help exporters get more from exporting. It provides a structured framework around which participants can build the marketing plan, contractual and trade operations procedures that will form the backbone of their export activity into the future. The lifetime access to the eBSI alumni means that participants who graduate can and normally do remain in contact with their peers to continue to problem solve and generate business for years after graduation. So it really is a gift that keeps on giving.
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| HMK4030 NTN | 40 | 50 | 30 |
| HMK4025 NTN | 40 | 50 | 25 |