To kick off the 10 year anniversary of TXF Global Commodities, independent economist Rebecca Harding addresses the political risk of supply chains, tapping into national security strategies and how this impacts sustainability issues, such as food security and climate change.

Africa has some of the world's most valuable deposits of metals and minerals that are needed to drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) globally. Global rivals the US and China, as well as Middle Powers the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are scaling up engagement with African countries to secure access to these resources. What does this mean for African economies and mining sectors? Will there be another wave of resource nationalism? And will global supply chains facilitate this emerging trend?

In this session, we heard from producers across the metals, energy, and agri spaces on how they are tackling the top headwinds and opportunities of 2024. What ways are producers financing themselves beyond bank financing? In what ways are the relationships between producers and traders evolving beyond just financial support, and towards logistical/supply chain support?

Some of the digital providers transforming processes within the commodity trade finance space come together, alongside bank and corporate customers of digital solutions to discuss: How the industry is continuing to use digitalisation to streamline procedures, if the commodities space could take note from any other industries when it comes to innovation/adoption of digital processes, and if AI is just a buzzword in the pilot stage, or is it already being utilised by the commodities industry?