New book calls for AI-driven trust in global trade

Enterprise risk management expert, Onengiye Fimibama has called for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and transparency as key pillars for rebuilding trust in global commerce.

She made the call at a media parley where she unveiled her new book titled “The New Frontier of Trade Security.” The publication explores how AI-powered verification and ethical governance can transform global trade relationships and protect businesses from fraud.

Speaking at the virtual event, Fimibama said the book was inspired by the need to rethink how international trade is secured in an age of data, automation, and increasing cross-border complexity.

“Global trade moves faster than ever before, but trust has not kept pace,” she said.

“Our systems must be intelligent, transparent, and fair enough to protect both large and small businesses. Trust is not a byproduct of compliance, it is the foundation of sustainable trade.”

The author explained that The New Frontier of Trade Security introduces a practical model for improving vendor verification through a “Trust Score” – a measurable indicator that evaluates the reliability of trading partners using both official records and dynamic market signals such as news and analyst reviews.

According to her, traditional document-based verification systems no longer meet the needs of modern commerce. “They were built for simpler times,” Fimibama noted. “Today, businesses need frameworks that combine AI-driven analysis with human judgment to detect risks early and respond quickly.”

The book also sets out performance metrics, including time to decision, early detection rate, and data freshness, to help organisations monitor the quality of their verification processes.

Beyond technology, Fimibama emphasised that ethics and fairness must remain central to trade practices. She urged companies to treat vendors as partners, ensure transparency in AI-driven evaluations, and monitor for bias across regions and sectors.

“Technology must serve human values,” she said. “We must explain how AI decisions are made and give every business a fair chance to be understood, not just assessed.”

She further called for collaboration between governments, financial institutions, technology providers, and business leaders, describing trust as the new currency of international trade.

Fimibama added that the goal of the book is to empower organisations, especially small and medium-scaled businesses, to compete globally with confidence through transparent, data-driven systems.

“The New Frontier of Trade Security is about technology and also about responsibility. The future of commerce belongs to those who can build speed without losing trust,” she concludes.