Expert view points

As flows of physical commodities evolve at a quickening pace, commodity finance banks must become increasingly sophisticated. Viewpoint by Ludivine Labarre, Global Head of Trade Commodity Finance at Societe Generale

What we need to do is no longer in doubt: to safeguard our future on the planet, we must drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution and protect biodiversity.

Paul Taylor, Global Head of Maritimes Industries at Societe Generale, has penned his thoughts in Marine Money Magazine - article published on November 10, 2022

The world is betting on hydrogen. This simplest of elements is increasingly being regarded as a big part of the solution to global climate change. However the world is only at the start of a potential ‘hydrogen economy’ and Asia boasts some of the most interesting potential.

The modern Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) movement began few decades ago with socially responsible investing, as asset managers reduced exposure to questionable areas, such as tobacco or alcohol.

China’s leadership in digital payments has reshaped the way companies think about cash management. It now promises to transform cross-border commerce with the world’s second-biggest economy.

After two years of uncertainty and turmoil in the transaction banking industry, we asked our experts about the challenges facing treasurers in the months and years ahead.

3 questions to Deia Markova, Head of Trade Commodity Finance and Sustainability ambassador at Societe Generale in Switzerland

The world economy is at the kind of turning point that occurs only once or twice in a generation. Fourteen years of quantitative easing, that fuelled an unprecedented boom in asset prices, has come to a juddering halt.

Despite the geopolitical tensions and the health crisis, the development of the cross-border payments market shows no signs of slowing down; in fact, quite the contrary...

A year after the launch of the first pure-play dedicated hydrogen equity fund, we anticipate that large-scale hydrogen projects will get closer to lending decisions in the next six to 18 months. By Louis-Aynard de Clermont Tonnerre, Global Head of Power, Utilities & Infrastructure at Societe Generale

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are gaining interest even though they are in their infancy, and it is not clear how fast they will develop. Central banks' interest in the subject has not waned - no less than 100 central banks are working on the subject, but many questions remain unanswered.

Fresh from signing the Sustainable Steel Principles (SSP) in New York, Christophe Hadjal, Head of Advisory & Business Development – Natural Resources, Mining, Metals & Industries at Societe Generale, shares an update on the decarbonisation of steel and the shift of Mining, Metals and Industries finance.