Shaw & Partners

As global trade becomes increasingly shaped by regulatory complexity and evolving trade agreements, access to reliable trade intelligence has become an important competitive advantage. The European Commission's Access2Markets portal is the EU's official digital platform for trade information, designed to simplify international commerce. It provides businesses, exporters, importers, trade professionals, and policymakers with a centralized resource for navigating market access requirements, trade agreements, customs procedures, and regulatory compliance. ◾ Integrated Digital Infrastructure for International Trade Access2Markets integrates information previously available through the Market Access Database (MADB) alongside the TARIC database into a single digital platform. For business leaders and trade strategists, it provides a consolidated view of market access requirements, tariff regimes, and regulatory obligations across the European Union's trading partners, helping bridge the gap between trade policy and day-to-day business operations. ◾ Core Capabilities: My Trade Assistant & ROSA Two of the platform's core features are: ▪️ My Trade Assistant enables users to retrieve detailed product-specific trade information. By entering a product's Harmonized System (HS) code and selecting the relevant import or export markets, users can access information on customs duties, value-added tax (VAT), excise duties where applicable, import and export procedures, required documentation, and applicable technical and regulatory requirements. ▪️ Rules of Origin Self-Assessment (ROSA) assists businesses in determining whether their products qualify for preferential tariff treatment under EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Through a structured assessment, ROSA evaluates production processes and value-added requirements to help determine compliance with applicable Rules of Origin. ◾ Addressing Non-Tariff Measures Beyond tariffs, Access2Markets provides comprehensive information on non-tariff measures (NTMs), including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements, technical barriers to trade (TBT), product standards, and sustainability-related regulations. For organizations expanding internationally, this level of transparency helps reduce compliance risks, minimize customs delays, and support adherence to EU regulatory requirements before goods reach the border. ◾ The Single Entry Point: Supporting Fair Market Access An important feature of the platform is the Single Entry Point (SEP). The SEP enables companies, business associations, and other stakeholders to report market access barriers encountered in third countries, as well as potential breaches of international trade or sustainability commitments. Explore Access2Markets: https://lnkd.in/eKjmB5k #Access2Markets #InternationalTrade #TradeCompliance #GlobalTrade #EuropeanUnion #TradePolicy #MarketAccess

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has spent the past two years sharpening its focus as the financing arm of the European Union, demonstrating agility and innovation in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The latest mid-term report on the Strategic Roadmap 2024/2027 confirms that the implementation of its eight core priorities is well underway, with significant strides in climate action, digitalization, security, and social cohesion. The Group’s commitment to driving tangible impact is reflected in its recent performance: ▪️ Record-Breaking Financing: The Group signed €100 billion in new financing in 2025, providing critical support across energy, housing, transport, and water sectors. ▪️ Defense & Security: Support for security and defense has significantly increased, bolstered by expanded eligibility and a growing pipeline of flagship projects. ▪️ Tech & Innovation: The Group has accelerated its backing for technological leadership, highlighted by the successful launch of the #TechEU programme. ▪️ Climate & Cohesion: The EIB continues to lead as the EU’s climate bank while reinforcing vital investments in agriculture, the bioeconomy, and social infrastructure. As the Group pivots to the next phase of its roadmap, the focus is intensifying on long-term competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Priorities include: ▪️ Scaling Strategic Infrastructure: Increasing investment in artificial intelligence, energy systems, digital infrastructure, and critical supply chains. ▪️ Strengthening Competitiveness: Balancing the green transition with the need to fortify Europe's economic security. ▪️ Maximizing Impact: Improving operational efficiency and mobilizing private capital to deliver larger-scale investments faster. The full mid-term report, including an annex of flagship projects from 2024 through May 2026, is available below. 🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/degSH9pu #EIB #EUFinance #Sustainability #Innovation #TechEU #EconomicGrowth #StrategicRoadmap

🇪🇺 Why Europe’s greatest competitiveness threat isn't operational failure — it’s succession failure. Europe’s #business #succession and #transition challenge undoubtedly has demographic roots. However, its implications extend far beyond demographics. Increasingly, it represents a structural constraint on competitiveness, economic continuity, and industrial resilience. The central challenge is no longer simply executing a business transfer (the legal and financial sale), but managing the broader succession (the long-term leadership transition) to preserve business viability. According to European Commission estimates, approximately 450,000 business transfers occur annually across the #EU, with unsuccessful transitions placing roughly 600,000 jobs at risk each year. In many cases, these businesses are not distressed assets; they are profitable enterprises facing an uncertain ownership continuity. For businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions, ownership transition has evolved into a multi-dimensional undertaking encompassing governance, legal architecture, capital allocation, and long-term economic stewardship. Even where a business remains fundamentally healthy — with strong customer relationships, skilled employees, attractive market positioning, and resilient cash flows — the complexity surrounding succession can become a material risk to continuity. In many cases, the risk is not operational failure, but succession failure. This should concern founders, investors, and policymakers alike. Europe’s economic resilience is built not only on innovation and new company formation, but also on the successful transfer of existing productive capacity. At a time when #Europe is pursuing strategic autonomy, industrial renewal, supply-chain resilience, and greater economic competitiveness, many #SMEs face an uncertain future — not because they lack commercial viability, but because ownership continuity has become increasingly complex. Succession must therefore be viewed as more than a private asset transfer. It is an issue of economic continuity, institutional resilience, and long-term competitiveness. The question is whether Europe can preserve economically viable businesses before succession failure becomes a greater threat to competitiveness than operational underperformance itself. #BusinessSuccession #EuropeanEconomy #SME #CorporateGovernance #IndustrialPolicy #EuropeanCompetitiveness #FamilyBusiness #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquity #BusinessContinuity

For decades, the #InternationalExpansion playbook was predictable: hire advisors, commission market studies, and appoint intermediaries. By 2026, this conventional approach has been largely superseded by more integrated models. Against a backdrop of moderating global growth and tighter #capital conditions, capital allocation frameworks have become increasingly disciplined and risk-adjusted. Execution risk—not strategy—has emerged as the primary bottleneck for cross-border projects, particularly in long-cycle infrastructure and real asset environments where misalignment compounds structurally over time. In capital-intensive sectors like #Energy and #TechInfrastructure, the misalignment between advisory services and operational accountability represents a significant risk to capital preservation and value creation. While advisory services provide strategic frameworks, they often lack direct involvement in implementation. Strategy is delivered; exposure is not. When supply chains tighten or regulatory hurdles arise, traditional advisory mandates frequently decouple at the critical juncture where operational risk materializes. This leaves #stakeholders with a fundamental imbalance: robust strategy separate from direct execution responsibility. For founders, this often becomes visible only when capital is already deployed and timelines begin to slip. In high-growth and structurally complex markets, this gap becomes a critical determinant of project viability—where operational friction can quietly erode valuation long before it appears in financial reporting or lender assessments. We are witnessing a structural pivot toward "Principal Partnerships," where expansion partners transition from third-party facilitators to active participants with direct operational exposure. This transition is structural, not semantic: ▪️Direct Risk Allocation: Realigning incentives from transaction-based success to long-term asset performance through equity participation and governance alignment—embedding behavioral alignment across the full project lifecycle. ▪️Vertical Operational Integration: Extending beyond initial market entry to establish resilient execution platforms—encompassing regulatory, financial, and logistical infrastructure—that endure throughout the investment lifecycle. For founders, this often determines whether international expansion accelerates growth—or absorbs management focus and capital for years. ▪️Strategic Hub Synchronization: Leveraging established financial centers to harmonize jurisdictional complexities, centralize governance oversight, and reduce operational fragmentation—bridging regulatory predictability with capital market depth. In this environment, advisory-only expansion models face limitations. Shared accountability and aligned capital are essential—principal alignment is critical for founders scaling globally. This is no longer just governance—it shapes valuation, follow-on capital, and long-term strategic optionality.

As of March 2026, official government publications signal a period of strategic institutional consolidation and macroeconomic recalibration across the core #BRICS economies. Members are collectively pursuing structural modernization and synchronized institutional coordination, balancing national policy priorities with the bloc’s broader goals for resilient, sustainable growth. ▪️ #India – 2026 BRICS Chairship India holds the 2026 BRICS Chairship with the official theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” as presented on the BRICS 2026 India Presidency portal. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is highlighted as a priority under the Innovation pillar, alongside initiatives to strengthen economic cooperation, sustainability, and institutional integration. Read more: https://lnkd.in/diabm8xx ▪️ #China – 2026–2030 Development Framework China has approved its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), serving as the official blueprint guiding national economic and social development. The plan emphasizes high-quality growth, industrial modernization, strengthening the real economy, technological innovation, and long-term modernization as China advances toward its 2035 objectives. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d9dsEdFW ▪️ #Brazil – Monetary Policy Adjustment On March 18, 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) of the Banco Central do Brasil reduced the Selic target rate to 14.75%, marking the start of a new monetary easing cycle after an extended period of stability. The decision reflects moderation in inflation, with IBGE data reporting the 12-month IPCA rate near 3.8% at the time. Read more: https://www.bcb.gov.br/en ▪️ #Russia – Key Rate Reduction The Central Bank of the Russian Federation reduced its key policy rate to 15.00% in March 2026, citing moderating inflation and macroeconomic stabilization. As of mid-March, annual inflation was reported at approximately 5.9%, with underlying measures ranging between 4% and 5% Read more: https://www.cbr.ru/eng/ ▪️ #SouthAfrica – Inflation Framework Refinement In late 2025, the National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank established a new inflation target of 3% with a ±1% tolerance band, replacing the previous 3%–6% range. Implementation is planned over two years through coordinated fiscal and monetary actions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dB-sRdEA

The New Development Bank (NDB) stands as a premier multilateral development institution, established by the #BRICS nations to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects across emerging markets and developing economies. Operating with a robust capital base and a mandate for rapid, high-impact project execution, the NDB serves as a critical financier dedicated to bridging global funding gaps in clean energy, transport, and digital connectivity. To ensure the successful delivery of these initiatives, the Bank maintains a dynamic pipeline of procurement opportunities and invites qualified consultants, contractors, and suppliers to participate in competitive bidding processes through its dedicated e-Procurement System (EPS). For financial and procurement specialists, the NDB represents a sophisticated partner committed to institutional transparency, value-for-money, and ESG-aligned investment strategies. Key Institutional Pillars ▪️ Strategic Mandate: Mobilizing capital for sustainable infrastructure while fostering South-South cooperation and long-term economic resilience. ▪️ Financial Framework: Headquartered in #Shanghai, the NDB utilizes innovative financing mechanisms - including local currency lending - to mitigate exchange rate volatility and enhance project viability for member nations. ▪️ Procurement Excellence: The Bank adheres to a Core Procurement Policy centered on economy, efficiency, and equity, prioritizing "fit-for-purpose" solutions and the integration of country systems where appropriate. ▪️ Sustainability Integration: Every project undergoes a rigorous Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) assessment to ensure that capital deployment generates measurable, positive developmental impacts. Value Proposition for Professionals: The #NDB offers a collaborative ecosystem for Financial Specialists through diversified portfolio management and sophisticated risk-sharing mechanisms. Simultaneously, it provides Procurement Specialists with a structured, competitive landscape that prioritizes high technical standards and rigorous fiduciary oversight. *Institutional note: The NDB is more than a lending institution; it is a strategic partner dedicated to optimizing the project lifecycle through international best practices in global sourcing and financial governance. ◾ Current Procurement Opportunities: As of January 2026, the New Development Bank has several active procurement opportunities spanning both Corporate Procurement (internal operational services) and Project Procurement (infrastructure and development projects in member countries). A comprehensive listing of all active corporate and project-level procurement opportunities, including detailed tender documentation and submission guidelines, is available for review through the official New Development Bank Procurement Portal at the following link: https://lnkd.in/gEs3zXmV

The current venture capital environment is characterized by a significant shift in capital allocation, moving away from a "growth at all costs" thesis toward demonstrable profitability and sustainable enterprise value creation. This deleveraging effect places immense pressure on pioneering ventures to prove their structural viability. The core challenge is the successful transition from technological breakthrough (R&D) to global market competitiveness. This requires more than a financial injection; it demands the strategic convergence of three distinct capabilities: ➡️ Policy & Regulatory Foresight: Establishing market frameworks that mitigate early-stage regulatory and policy risk. ➡️ Operational Scalability: Engineering a transition path that optimizes capital efficiency over cash burn. ➡️ Capital Structure Optimization: Aligning financing (whether proprietary or institutional) with the maturity profile of the technology. Innovation success is now defined by the quality of its commercialization strategy. Structuring ventures for global resilience through rigorous operational and policy alignment is the essential catalyst for unlocking long-term, generational value for all stakeholders. #InnovationCommercialization #VentureCapital #EnterpriseValue #StrategicAdvisory #TechnologyTransfer #InvestmentStrategy #CapitalDeployment

In an era where infrastructure initiatives increasingly cross public, private, and institutional boundaries, success now hinges on the seamless integration of advisory services, capital deployment, and operational execution. This holistic model is fast becoming indispensable to governments, accredited investors, and innovative high-growth enterprises engaged in large-scale mandates worldwide. Market & Policy context (2024 foundation for 2025): ▪️ In 2024, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved US $8.4 billion in financing for 51 projects across energy, water, transport, digital, and social infrastructure. ▪️ Across major multilateral development banks (MDBs), global climate finance reached a record US $137 billion in 2024, up approximately 10% from the prior year, with US $85.1 billion directed to low- and middle-income economies. ▪️ The New Development Bank (NDB) active portfolio exceeded US $35 billion by end 2024, spanning infrastructure, clean energy, transport, and water/sanitation projects. ▪️ Complementing these efforts, ten MDBs approved US $19.6 billion in global water-sector financing in 2024, directing US $14.4 billion to lower-income countries. The Strategic imperative for Governments & Investors: ▪️ Risk allocation and de-risking: PPP structures enable the strategic transfer of construction, lifecycle, and operational risks to parties with specialized expertise, significantly improving investability and reducing exposure in large-scale infrastructure projects. ▪️ Capital efficiency and scalability: Engaging private and institutional capital through robust frameworks accelerates delivery, reduces cost overruns, and enhances long-term performance. ▪️ Policy alignment and sustainability: Leading PPP mandates now embed climate resilience, operational transparency, and regulatory clarity, aligning public objectives with investors expectations for sustainable, scalable impact. Strategic execution considerations: ▪️ Establish clear economic and policy frameworks early in PPPs that definitively define risk allocation, lifecycle performance, and public value creation. ▪️ Deploy capital and operational capabilities alongside advisory services to ensure frameworks are not merely theoretical but execution-ready. ▪️ Prioritize sustainability, transparency, and governance: regulatory clarity and institutional maturity distinguish investable PPP programs from one-off projects. 2025 is a pivotal year marked by aging infrastructure, inflationary pressures, and urgent climate commitments, compressing delivery timelines and increasing the premium on execution readiness. Organizations assessing PPP structuring, strategic capital deployment, or innovation-to-market ventures may find that integrated advisory, investment, and operational frameworks significantly enhance investability, execution speed, and long-term legacy creation. #PublicPrivatePartnerships #CapitalDeployment #IntegratedAdvisory #

Shaw & Partners recognizes the strategic significance of the upcoming Shanghai Fair Trade Show (October 30–31, 2025) at the Hungexpo - Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre in Budapest, Hungary. This high-level event, formally backed by the Shanghai Federation of Economic Organizations (SFEO) and the Shanghai Services Federation, and supported locally by the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represents a concentrated effort to forge direct B2B connections and showcase leading Chinese high-tech and industrial innovation. The Fair is engineered as a critical juncture for regional businesses, bringing an estimated 120 - 150 verified Shanghai-based high-tech enterprises to the heart of Central Europe. It establishes a dedicated forum for chambers of commerce, industry associations, and SMEs to engage in substantive dialogue, technological, and cultural exchanges, empowering them to form strategic partnerships and new business ventures across international commerce and technological exchange. ➡️ Date & Location: October 30–31, 2025, at HUNGEXPO, Budapest. This offers a timely opportunity for strategic Q4 engagement. ➡️ Exhibitors: Approximately 120–150 Shanghai-based high-tech companies, providing direct access to new, verified Chinese supply chains and technology. ➡️ Key Focus Areas: Smart Manufacturing, Industrial Digitalization, AI, Green Industrial Technologies, Automation, Robotics, Building Materials, and Renewable Energy. ➡️ Format: A focused Trade Show featuring dedicated Business Matching Meetings, prioritizing tangible deal-making and relationship-building. This fair presents a direct avenue for companies in our network to enhance their competitive positioning across several dimensions: ➡️ Supply Chain Diversification and Innovation: The focus on advanced technology, particularly in Automation, Green Tech, and New Materials, offers a chance to secure next-generation suppliers or partners. For manufacturing and industrial clients, this is an opportunity to directly access cutting-edge Chinese industrial digital innovation. ➡️ Sector-Specific Advantage: Companies in real estate, construction, renewable energy are specifically targeted, with a dedicated professional exchange on building materials. This highlights a strategic Chinese focus on Hungary's and Central Europe's growing infrastructure and energy transition needs. Shaw & Partners recommends that clients from Hungary and Central Europe with active sourcing, procurement, or technological adoption objectives in the manufacturing and high-tech industrial space prioritize their presence at this event. We will be present to facilitate introductions and provide strategic advisory, and encourage partners to connect with us prior to the Fair to discuss how we can assist in maximizing this opportunity. ▫️ Photo credit: Shanghai Fair Trade Show  #ShanghaiFair #Budapest #Hungary #B2B #HighTech #IndustrialInnovation #SupplyChain #ShawPartners