Story perspectives

Banking Forum Urges AI to Tackle Trade Challenges

1/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Raluca Popa of HSBC urged rethinking processes to broaden customer access to financing and proposed using AI to connect with customers' systems for rapid data processing.
Gilbert Lee Man-lung of Heng Sang Bank identified time, cost, and uncertainty as key client challenges.
Jimmy Jim of ICBC (Asia) noted that geopolitical tensions are driving trade diversification amid competition and fragmented platforms.
The forum also highlighted industry challenges with unconnected trade-finance platforms.

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Story summary

Raluca Popa of HSBC urged rethinking processes to broaden customer access to financing and proposed using AI to connect with customers' systems for rapid data processing.
Gilbert Lee Man-lung of Heng Sang Bank identified time, cost, and uncertainty as key client challenges.
Jimmy Jim of ICBC (Asia) noted that geopolitical tensions are driving trade diversification amid competition and fragmented platforms.
The forum also highlighted industry challenges with unconnected trade-finance platforms.