History

The Berne Union is the leading association for export credit and investment insurance worldwide
The Berne Union was founded in 1934 by private and state export credit insurers from France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Its first meeting was in Berne, Switzerland - which is where the name Berne Union came from.
Our aims have remained consistent since then:

- To actively facilitate cross-border trade by supporting international acceptance of sound principles in export credits and foreign investment.
- To provide a forum for professional exchanges amongst our members.

The growth of the Berne Union

The Berne Union has always been made up of both public and private companies.

By 1959 we had 22 members, including companies from outside Europe such as EDC (Canada), US EXIMBANK and EFIC (Australia).

In 1974 our mandate expanded to include members who insure foreign investments.

The export credit members formed two groups in 1999, focusing on short term and medium/long term export credit business.

More than 10 new members have joined since 2002, further increasing our geographical diversity.

The Berne Union Prague Club

The Berne Union set up the Prague Club in 1993. The Prague Club aims to support new and maturing export credit agencies setting up and developing export credit and investment insurance schemes.

Find out more about the Prague Club

The Berne Union today

Group

Berne Union Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs and Secretariat staff

Today, with more than 70 member companies from around the world as members of the Berne Union and the Prague Club, we have grown to be the leading global organisation for the export credit and investment insurance industry.