Allianz Trade, the world’s leading trade credit insurer, has been named ‘best export credit agency’ by Global Trade Review (GTR). It is the fourth consecutive year that GTR has recognized Allianz Trade with an award, having previously recognized the company as best APAC trade credit insurer  in 2013 and 2014, as well as best global trade credit and political risk insurer in 2014 and 2015.

Naming Allianz Trade as ‘best export credit agency’ for its 2016 activities, the industry publication cited Allianz Trade’ “strong commitment to support exporters through a range of new initiatives.” 

The judges noted that Allianz Trade “stands out for its focus on digitalization.” This includes the launch of its digital agency in 2015 and partnering in 2016 with blockchain solution provider Fluent, since rebranded Hijro, to explore blockchain opportunities in the trade finance industry. GTR also singled out Allianz Trade collaboration with Moody’s to better serve European SMEs and noted that Moody’s chose Allianz Trade for “the quality of its credit expertise, detailed knowledge of the SME sector, and for the scope of its analytical coverage.”

Allianz Trade’ “world-class” research was also noted, particularly the quality of “risk analysis and intelligence on companies and trade sectors in 194 countries, providing unique information on non-payment data and insolvencies across the globe”. This included providing a new online platform for economic research, “from which more than 80,000 reports have been downloaded”.

GTR is a bi-monthly magazine with a global readership of some 24,000 corporate leaders, bankers and financiers in the international trade, export and commodity finance world. The awards are the result of voting by the magazine’s editorial board.