The Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan (ECA) participated in the Spring Meeting of the Berne Union.
From May 13 to 16, 2025, the annual Spring Meeting of the Berne Union was held in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The event brought together leading global experts in export credit and investment insurance to discuss current trends, share experiences, and define the future direction of the industry.
The meeting was attended by financial sector professionals and top executives from export credit agencies and EXIM banks, including Bpifrance, Credendo, Allianz (Euler Hermes), SACE, Sinosure, NEXI, US EXIM Bank, and others.
The delegation of the Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan (ECA) also took part in the event, headed by Chairman Allen Chaizhunusov.
ECA has been a member of the Berne Union’s Prague Club since 2015.
The Berne Union is an international association of export credit agencies and global financial institutions, established in 1934. Today, it unites 84 agencies and institutions from 67 countries. Its core mission is to develop and establish terms for foreign investment guarantees and long-term export credits, as well as to facilitate knowledge sharing. Collectively, Berne Union members provide annual payment risk insurance to banks, exporters, and investors amounting to approximately USD 2.5 trillion—equivalent to 13% of global cross-border trade.
The Union holds international meetings twice a year, in spring and autumn, to formulate trade finance conditions, discuss export credit insurance, and exchange expertise.
The theme of this year’s Spring Meeting plenary session was “Strengthening Economic Resilience Amid Geopolitical Tensions.” Participants discussed how the export finance and investment insurance industries can best respond to current global challenges.
Traditional approaches focused on cost-efficiency and just-in-time production are being reconsidered in favor of resilience, diversification, and sustainability. In this new reality, Berne Union members acknowledged the importance of adapting strategies and products to maintain competitiveness and effectiveness.
“The growing fragmentation and realignment of global trade along geopolitical lines present serious challenges to building a safer, more inclusive, and sustainable global economy. Our agency pursues an innovative approach to stimulating non-commodity export growth by prioritizing alternative solutions that reduce reliance on raw materials. We are also gradually integrating ESG principles into our underwriting processes, aligning risk assessments with sustainable development goals,” said Allen Chaizhunusov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan.
To conclude the session, Mr. Chaizhunusov held a number of bilateral meetings. He discussed strategic cooperation with Akita Yuichiro, Manager of International Affairs and Strategic Policy at Japan’s export credit agency NEXI; with Sylvia Gavornikova, Head of Export Credits and Competition at the OECD; with Yanjin Chang, representing Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (KSURE); and with Hetai Cheng, President of China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (SINOSURE).
