Spring Meeting of the Berne Union, at the heart of the challenges of financing international trade
From May 11 to 14, 2026, Bpifrance Assurance Export participated in the Spring Meeting of the Berne Union in Astana (Kazakhstan), an annual meeting of the main global players in export credit insurance.
The Berne Union brings together the world's leading players in export credit insurance and international trade finance. It contributes to the development of international trade by promoting cooperation and the sharing of best practices among its members.
In a context marked by the environmental transition, geopolitical tensions and the recomposition of global value chains, this edition highlighted the profound changes in the financing of international trade.
On this occasion, the figures published by the Berne Union confirmed the structuring role of export credit agencies and credit insurers in supporting international trade. In 2025, the organization's members supported a record level of USD 3.7 trillion in international trade. Medium and long-term commitments also reached a historic high of USD 231 billion, marking a third consecutive year of growth. In this context, Bpifrance Assurance Export is positioned as the second largest contributor worldwide.
Profound transformations in export financing
Beyond the volumes, the trade confirmed lasting market trends:
- an increasing concentration of financing on complex and capital-intensive projects, particularly in the nuclear, offshore wind and cruise ship sectors;
- the development of financing models combining export credit agencies, private insurers and multilateral institutions;
- the growing importance of sustainability issues, risk structuring and economic sovereignty.
For France, participation in this work is a strategic issue in order to contribute to the evolution of international standards, to promote access for French exporters to major international projects and to anticipate the growth dynamics of certain key regions.
Central Asia at the heart of trade
This edition also highlighted Central Asia, a region with growing potential for global players. On this occasion, Bpifrance Assurance Export moderated a panel discussion on regional perspectives and shared its operational experience with its counterparts.
Beyond sectoral exchanges, this meeting helped strengthen ties with several French and Kazakh institutional and economic partners, including the French Embassy in Kazakhstan, the Economic Service, the European Union delegation, the AFD, as well as numerous local public and private actors.
Through its participation in the Spring Meeting, Bpifrance Assurance Export continues its commitment alongside international players in export financing to support the transformations of international trade and to support French companies in major export markets.
We also recommend...
Critical materials & industrial sovereignty: Bpifrance Assurance Export mobilized to strengthen French and European sovereignty
Bpifrance Assurance Export is taking action to support French and European sovereignty in critical materials, through the granting of a Strategic Projects Guarantee (GPS) to the Vulcan Energy group…
Bpifrance Assurance Export becomes a permanent member of the NZECA alliance and strengthens its commitment to low-carbon financing
Bpifrance Assurance Export takes a further step in its climate commitment by becoming a permanent member of the Net-Zero Export Credit Agencies Alliance (NZECA), an initiative led by the Programme of…
Critical materials: a strategic partnership to structure value chains
On April 29, Bpifrance Assurance Export, the French Treasury, and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed a letter of intent with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as part of the initiative…