• The International Factors Group (in short: IFG or IF-Group) was founded in 1963 as the first international association of factoring companies.
  
  
• The original mission of IFG was to help factoring companies to conduct cross-border business acting as correspondents for each other. This is still the core activity of IFG today (see: 2-Factor).
  
  
• The international factoring scene has changed tremendously over the last years and continues to change every day. The growth of the industry, combined with a recent evolution towards Asset Based Lending creates new international challenges which go beyond the role of correspondent import-export Factors:
  • How to develop people skills in this specialized finance industry?
  • How to assess legal aspects for cross-border operations? How to influence the regulatory environment in different countries?
  • How to organize Risk Management? What role can IT-solutions play for the competitiveness?
  • How to know more about the latest trends in the industry? And in general: how to reserve a place at the table of High Finance for the Factoring and Asset Based Lending Industry?
  
  
  In 2002, IFG has taken up this challenge and is today recognized as the representative Trade Association for the Factoring and the Asset Based Finance Industry, with an important focus on Education and Events, Industry Information and regular News and Newsletters.
  
  
• Membership of IFG is open to all active market players in the industry, including service providers who become sponsors). IFG today is represented in more than 50 countries by more than 100 members.
  
  
• As Global Trade Association for the industry, IFG teams up with national associations such as ABFA in the UK and the CFA in the USA and international organizations such as the EIF. (see links).
  
  
• Thinking globally but acting locally, IFG is organized in regional Chapters in Asia, East Europe, MidEast & Africa and Latin America.
  
  
• IFG Secretariat operates from Brussels, Belgium: please contact us for all information requests.

For more information on the "working hours" as well as the bank holidays & closing days in 2008