HSBC Malta has launched a new report which provides the first complete picture of international trade for European businesses. Mapping the World’s Trade Connections demonstrates where the key changes are taking place, where new markets and sectors are emerging across the world for European businesses to trade with and where critical developments will be in the next five to 10 years.

It is being launched alongside HSBC’s latest Trade Confidence Index which highlights that international trade is fuelling global economic activity short term and will remain the strongest driver for growth in the next six months. Traders surveyed across 17 markets globally expect trade volumes and their trade finance requirements to increase or remain at current levels into 2011.

Europe will have a different role to play in the future becoming known less as a consumer, and more as an innovator, according to the research undertaken for HSBC by Delta Economics. It finds that Europe’s renowned leadership in cutting edge research, its strength in high value manufacturing and design and its access to ideas, innovations and networks, will see thinking businesses in Europe trading on skills not products in the future.

The report identifies rising stars on the world trade stage; Africa – notably South Africa, Vietnam and Eastern Europe, which represent “high growth” prospects as they are changing at pace. The opportunities for European businesses here lie in tapping into fuelling this change, for example in the short-term, supporting big infrastructure development and demand for commodities.