Speaking at the Berne Union Annual General Meeting, Chris Clubb, Managing Director of Convergence Blended Finance, outlined how blending development and trade finance can accelerate capital mobilisation across 142 low and middle-income countries.

He explained that the greatest alignment lies in using concessional development finance alongside trade finance to create viable projects, expand cross-border investment and distribute risk through Berne Union members and the trade finance community.

Chris outlined three practical opportunities:
Creating more viable projects using concessional development finance that can later be funded by Berne Union members and trade finance institutions.
Enabling multilateral development banks and DFIs to arrange more transactions and distribute risk through Berne Union networks.
Developing blended finance vehicles that act as reinsurance or re-guarantee mechanisms, allowing Berne Union members to underwrite greater exposure.

He also pointed to the Seville Declaration (July 2025), which reaffirmed the role of export credit agencies and Berne Union members in mobilising private investment. Building on that momentum, Clubb advocated for a long-term partnership between the development finance community and the trade finance ecosystem.