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Digital trade

Deepen your understanding of the evolving world of digital trade and emerging technologies with our introductory guides and toolkits or certify your knowledge with our digital trade certification. All authored by industry-leading digital trade practitioners.
Digital trade

What is digital trade?

Digital trade refers to the process of exchanging goods, services, and related information across borders through digital means, particularly focusing on the digitisation of information flows. In traditional international trade, documentation and data related to transactions are often managed manually using paper, leading to inefficiencies, higher costs, and increased chances of discrepancies or fraud.

Digital trade, on the other hand, involves the electronic exchange of trade-related data and documents, which can significantly speed up trade processes, reduce costs, and make global commerce more accessible, especially for small and medium sized enterprises.

The shift to digital trade helps streamline supply chains, reduce environmental impact, and create a more efficient and secure global trading system.

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Free digital trade resources

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From paper to digital: How MLETR and AI are transforming trade finance in Qatar
12 May 2026

From paper to digital: How MLETR and AI are transforming trade finance in Qatar

In this interview, Hussam Alkokhon, Chair of ICC Qatar Customs & Trade Facilitation Commission, ...
From copper mines to Silicon Valley: One engineer’s journey through global digital trade
6 May 2026

From copper mines to Silicon Valley: One engineer’s journey through global digital trade

Global trade moves trillions of dollars every year and much of it still runs on paper. For James Kev...
Break the eBL silos: Why TradeTrust is the key to digital trade interoperability
11 December 2025

Break the eBL silos: Why TradeTrust is the key to digital trade interoperability

This article is brought to you by The Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA). Reca...

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Digital trade certifications and courses

Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS)
Certification

Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS)

Learn the key aspects of digital trade, including essential macro perspectives and micro-level applications and standards.

US$499
Digital Trade Finance & Fintechs
Course

Digital Trade Finance & Fintechs

Get to grips with the digital trade ecosystem including the advent of fintechs, the legal, regulatory and commercialisation challenges involved

US$200
These companies use ICC Academy’s digital trade certifications and courses
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Hear from our alumni

A corporate environment depicting professionals discussing work together to represent our ICC alumni as being successful in their own fields.
24 July 2026

Inside export operations | A practitioner’s view from the front line

The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessari...
15 July 2026

My CTFP Journey | Chinedu Okoye, Nigeria

Snapshot of our CTFP alumni Name Chinedu Okoye Job title Team Leader, FX Payments Front Office Linke...
A blurred image of professionals walking by the office, for the trade finance career story.
12 June 2026

From trade floor to governance: A career in global trade operations

The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessari...

What our students say

Chinedu Okoye

The CTFP accelerated my professional development by enhancing both my technical credibility and my capacity for leadership...management has increasingly relied on me to lead complex cross-border transactions.

Team Lead, FX Payments Front Office, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Nigeria
Azeez Otukoya

A major problem I faced before the CTFP was career stagnation. However, within a year of completing the CTFP certification I was able to secure a better job opportunity. After this, it has been one job opportunity after another.

Business Analyst, Union Systems Limited, Nigeria
Rozanne De Almeida

I have added this qualification to my LinkedIn profile and I am sure that it has helped with the many job offers that have been referred to me.

Head of Trade, Hatton National Bank, Sri Lanka
Mohammed Ali

After completing the CTFP…I was subsequently selected for an elite role in State Bank of India’s Global Markets Unit thanks to this certification.

Branch Head, State Bank of India, India
Isuri Kelaniyage

Customers have also shown greater confidence in my advice, especially when dealing with complex documentation and payment terms, knowing that I hold an internationally recognised qualification from ICC.

Deputy Manager, NDB Bank, Sri Lanka

Frequently asked questions

Who can benefit from our digital trade certifications and courses?

Our certifications and courses benefit those who work with the element of digitisation in their day-to-day work. For shippers and carriers, job functions overseeing trade, strategy, logistics, and digitisation directly will benefit from it. In the fintech and banking sectors, it will be helpful for those overseeing technology, product, and development. Policy makers will also largely benefit from upskilling with our digital trade focused certifications and courses. View all certifications to see all that we offer.

Are there any prerequisites for enrolling in a digital trade focused certification?

Our digital trade certifications support learning at both introductory and advanced levels. Interested learners should be able to read and write in English.

How are the courses delivered, and what is the format?

All our certifications and courses can be completed 100% online, meaning you can access them wherever you are in the world, 24 hours a day. Our alumni come from more than 130 countries and our programmes are based on globally applicable rules and principles.

Are the certifications globally recognised?

Our certifications are also internationally accredited, by organisations like the Bankers Association for Trade and Finance (BAFT) and The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF). As ICC is the institutional representative of millions of companies in more than 170 countries, our certifications and courses draw upon the combined expertise and knowledge of a network unlike any other institution in the world.

What types of resources are available besides certifications and courses?

Apart from our certifications and courses, we also provide comprehensive guides on important digital trade topics around cross-border e-commerce, digital payments, data flows, digital trade facilitation, export import management and more – all authored by our network of ICC experts. Additionally, we also interview leading experts in the field to offer a holistic view of building a career in the field.

Further your digital trade knowledge with ICC certifications.