1. DEVELOPING CREDIT INSURANCE IN AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN UNCTAD/WTO – TUNISIA 23-24 OCTOBER 2000

2. REGIONAL CREDIT INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR AFRICA GRAHAM YOUNG BA BSc PhD FRGS FZS MANAGING DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CONSULTING LTD

3. APPROACH IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION WHAT INFORMATION RELIABILITY AND CONSISTENCY WHY DO WE NEED INFORMATION WHEN DO WE WANT INFORMATION HOW DO WE NEED INFORMATION THE PRESENT SITUATION WAYS FORWARD

4. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

5. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ________________________ TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS DEPEND ON RELIABLE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION

6. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ________________________ TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS DEPEND ON RELIABLE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION DECISIONS CANNOT BE TAKEN IN AN INFORMATION VACUUM

7. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ________________________ TRADE AND INVESTMENT FLOWS DEPEND ON RELIABLE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION DECISIONS CANNOT BE TAKEN IN AN INFORMATION VACUUM NO INFORMATION MEANS RESTRICTED OR DELAYED OR NO FLOWS

8. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ________________________ KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS-

9. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ________________________ KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS- –BANKS AND COMPANIES TO PRODUCE INFORMATION IN CLEARLY SPECIFIED FORMAT AND DETAIL

10. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ________________________ KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS- –BANKS AND COMPANIES TO PRODUCE IN CLEARLY SPECIFIED FORMAT AND DETAIL –MONITORING OF COMPLIANCE AND, WHERE NECESSARY, ENFORCING

11. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ________________________ KEY STAGES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FLOWS- –BANKS AND COMPANIES TO PRODUCE IN CLEARLY SPECIFIED FORMAT AND DETAIL –MONITORING OF COMPLIANCE AND, WHERE NECESSARY, ENFORCING –ENSURING INFORMATION GENERALLY AVAILABLE IN MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY

12. WHAT INFORMATION

13. WHAT INFORMATION ________________________ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

14. WHAT INFORMATION ________________________ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS INFORMATION ON RELEVANT ASPECTS OF LEGAL SYSTEM AND RELATED GOVERNMENT POLICY

15. WHAT INFORMATION ________________________ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS INFORMATION ON RELEVANT ASPECTS OF LEGAL SYSTEM AND RELATED GOVERNMENT POLICY DETAILS OF COURT JUDGMENTS AND DEBT ENFORCEMENT

16. RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF INFORMATION

17. RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF INFORMATION ________________________ INFORMATION MUST BE RELIABLE

18. RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF INFORMATION ________________________ INFORMATION MUST BE RELIABLE CONSISTENT

19. RELIABILITYAND CONSISTENCY OF INFORMATION ________________________ INFORMATION MUST BE RELIABLE CONSISTENT TRANSPARENT

20. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ?

21. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

22. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ FOR RISK ASSESSMENT TO ESTABLISH BUYER’S STATUS

23. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ RISK ASSESSMENT –THE CREDITWORTHY BUYER IS ONE WHOM THE UNDERWRITER JUDGES TO BE WILLING AND ABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS

24. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ FOR RISK ASSESSMENT –THE CREDITWORTHY BUYER IS ONE WHOM THE UNDERWRITER JUDGES TO BE WILLING AND ABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS –THE GOOD BUYER IS ONE WHO SHOWS COMMERCIAL MORALITY, GOOD MANAGERIAL CAPACITY, TRADING PRUDENCE, GOOD PAYMENTS RECORD ETC

25. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ TO ESTABLISH BUYER STATUS –IN WHICH SECTOR DOES IT OPERATE? PRIVATE PUBLIC SOVEREIGN

26. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ PRIVATE TYPE OF BUSINESS- SOLE TRADER, PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED COMPANY (MULTI- NATIONAL, SUBSIDIARY ETC)

27. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ PRIVATE TYPE OF BUSINESS - SOLE TRADER, PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED COMPANY (MULTI- NATIONAL, SUBSIDIARY ETC) TRADE SECTOR - MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR, WHOLESALER, RETAILER ETC

28. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ PUBLIC –STATUS - STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY

29. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ PUBLIC –STATUS - STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY –EXPERIENCE- IN TRADE SECTOR

30. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ PUBLIC –STATUS - STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY –EXPERIENCE- IN TRADE SECTOR –SOURCE OF REVENUE

31. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ PUBLIC –STATUS - STATE TRADING ORGANISATION, PUBLICLY-OWNED CORPORATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY –EXPERIENCE - IN TRADE SECTOR –SOURCE OF REVENUE –INSOLVENCY

32. WHY THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ? ________________________ SOVEREIGN –ABILITY TO COMMIT THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY, AS REGARDS PAYMENT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY

33. WHEN DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

34. WHEN DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION ________________________ AS SOON POSSIBLE - THE KEY IS FRESHNESS

35. HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION

36. HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION ________________________ READILY ACCESSIBLE

37. HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION ________________________ READILY ACCESSIBLE READILY AVAILABLE

38. HOW DO WE WANT THE INFORMATION ________________________ READILY ACCESSIBLE READILY AVAILABLE AT ECONOMIC COST

39. THE PRESENT SITUATION

40. THE PRESENT SITUATION ________________________ GLOBALLY POOR WITH A FEW BRIGHT SPOTS

41. THE PRESENT SITUATION ________________________ MAIN PLAYERS –CREDIT INFORMATION AGENCIES –ECAs AND COMMERCIALBANKS –BUYERS AND SELLERS –IFIs

42. THE PRESENT SITUATION ________________________ MISSING PLAYERS TOO MANY GOVERNMENTS

43. THE PRESENT SITUATION ________________________ WHY TOO MANY GOVERNMENTS ARE MISSING PLAYERS? LACK OF POLITICAL WILL

44. THE PRESENT SITUATION ________________________ WHY TOO MANY GOVERNMENTS ARE MISSING PLAYERS LACK OF POLITICAL WILL LACK OF RESOURCES AND/OR TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

45. WAYS FORWARD

46. WAYS FORWARD ________________________ ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOVERNMENTS’ ATTENTION

47. WAYS FORWARD ________________________ ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOVERNMENTS’ ATTENTION ATTRACT AND RETAIN IFIs ATTENTION

48. WAYS FORWARD ________________________ ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOVERNMENTS’ ATTENTION ATTRACT AND RETAIN IFIs ATTENTION SOURCE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

49. WAYS FORWARD ________________________ INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY ORGANISATION V REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS

50. WAYS FORWARD ________________________ WHO SHOULD OWN/CONTROL/OPERATE? OWNERSHIP - THE STATE CONTROL - THE STATE (WITH PRIVATE SECTOR ASSISTANCE) OPERATE - THE PRIVATE SECTOR

51. WAYS FORWARD ________________________ THE EFFECTS OF E-COMMERCE –WILL BECOME A FORCE IN TIME –B2B WILL DEMAND INFORMATION – FAILURE TO PROVIDE WILL BE POTENTIAL DISASTER FOR THOSE COUNTRIES FALLING SHORT BUT- BEWARE FOR IMMEDIATE FUTURE

52. WAYS FORWARD ________________________ PROGNOSIS AS GOVERNMENTS INCREASINGLY COME TO RECOGNISE THAT FAILURE TO ENSURE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE WILL BE TO THEIR OWN DETRIMENT, SO WILL THEY TAKE NOTICE AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GAPS. BUT VERY MANY WILL NEED HELP – BOTH FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE