When vision and values align, promising results are likely to follow. Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) is the specialised state partner helping Emiratis expand their businesses internationally. ECI supports and develops the UAE’s non-oil exports, trade, investments, and strategic sectors — an anticipated value-creation of about $3bn over the next two years. ECI was founded as a result of an initiative by the federal government to fuel national export activity and advance the UAE Vision 2021 agenda. ECI has made remarkable strides since its late-2018 launch to forge strategic partnerships that promote the export and trade of Emirati goods and services and protect Emirati foreign investments. During ECI’s start-up phase, a “Customer Voice Project” was established in collaboration with the UAE Chambers of Commerce to understand the challenges faced by Emirati manufacturers, entrepreneurs and exporters. ECI provides customers with trade credit insurance products that cover UAE exporters against commercial and non-commercial risks, including buyer insolvency or refusal of delivery of goods, import bans or cancellation of import licence, as well as civil disorder and natural disasters. ECI surety bonds provide guarantees for contract bids, repayments, customs duties, and new employee hires. ECI partners with commercial banks to provide export financing solutions at concessional interest rates designed to facilitate business and boost sales. It has also developed an export trade credit solution for UAE-based SMEs to expand in high-growth markets. The CFI.co judging panel is impressed with the progress made in such a short time-span, and declares Etihad Credit Insurance the winner of the 2019 award for Most Innovative Finance Solutions (Middle East).