Alex Chen

Alex Chen is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Asia Risk Transfer Solutions (ARTS), a Singapore-based technology company founded with the mission of establishing insurance for the masses in Asia. From product design to portfolio management and more, ARTS helps insurers build new digital business strategies in the areas of Natural Catastrophe and Agriculture Insurance, geared at increasing risk protection levels of entire communities.

New Financing Approaches, Instruments and Opportunities that Address the Risks of Loss and Damage

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the insurance industry has been working with institutional investors in promoting risk modelling beyond insurance. The aim is to offer parametric risk transfer to organizations (e.g., NGOs, development banks, microfinance providers, municipalities) while sharing the risk with third-party investors via an investment fund structure.

Thomas Kessler

Keywords

Thomas has more than 25 years of experience in the private reinsurance market having actively managed risks, developed (re)insurance markets and implemented innovative insurance solutions for the private and public sector to close the protection gap in the area of natural hazard, credit, political, property and casualty, agriculture and life & health risks.

What are the Limitations of the Existing Financial Instruments to Address the Risks of Loss and Damage and What Could Be Other Options/Solutions Considering the Best Practices Around?

Forum participants enumerated the limitations of existing financial instruments, which include, among others, a lack of accessible and adequate data and a common understanding about how to characterize loss and damage. Contingency funds are also mostly loan-based. To address these limitations, they discussed possible alternatives they can take.

ADB's Trade Finance Program

Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Trade Finance Program provides guarantees and loans through banks to support trade. Through the program’s Credit Guarantee Product, ADB provides guarantees within 24 hours to confirming banks of up to 100% of non-payment risk. The program also supports transactions such as counter-guarantee, pre-export financing, and trade loan.

International Association of Insurance Supervisors' Approach to International Cooperation and Standard Implementation

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) promotes effective and globally consistent regulation and supervision of the insurance industry. Coordinating further with partners and regions and placing focus on where IAIS can add value in the implementation space is needed to strengthen effectiveness of implementation activities and value to members.