ADB to provide more trade finance support in Vietnam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) on June 15 signed an agreement under which the ODB will join the ADB’s Trade Finance Programme (TFP).
Accordingly, the TFP will provide guarantees of up to US$20 million a year to support trade in Vietnam.
The participation of the OCB means the TFP now has 12 bank partner in Vietnam.
Under this agreement, ADB and OCB will support exporting and importing companies, including small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), said Steven Beck, Head of Trade Finance at ADB.
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To date, the programme has conducted 4,479 transactions, supporting over US$6.9 billion in trade in Vietnam. Of these, roughly 75% were for trade financing for SMEs.
Along with providing loans and guarantees in Vietnam, the TFP will conduct workshops and seminars to increase knowledge and expertise on trade finance which should result in more support to exporting and importing companies.
Since 2009, the TFP has supported more than 8,000 SMEs across the region, with about 11,500 transactions valued at over US$23.2 billion, in sectors ranging from commodities and capital goods, to medical supplies and consumer goods.
