The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, on December 17 announced that it is providing a trade finance facility of up to US$10 million to TienPhong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank) to enhance its support for local enterprises and help boost international trade opportunities.

 

The facility, part of IFC’s global trade finance programme (GTFP), will provide TPBank with risk coverage in granting trade financing to local companies, and access to a global network to help grow its trade finance business. The network helps promote transactions in challenging markets, boost competitive financing, and build correspondent bank relationships with new institutions at low risk.

 

“This trade line helps extend our capacity to meet trade finance demand from small and medium enterprises (SMEs), one of our main target client groups,” says TPBank CEO Nguyen Hung in a statement. “Being part of IFC’s GTFP will help us get recognized by a wider range of correspondent banks globally, and make it easier for us and our clients to complete international transactions. “As IFC is very thorough in partner banks’ appraisal and selection, this IFC’s GTFP line is a “stamp of approval" of TPBank’s management efforts and strive in improving the bank's operation towards international standards.”

 

IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Kyle Kelhofer says the IFC’s trade finance support to TPBank will enable Vietnam’s SME sector to increase its share of global trade.

“Expanding trade flows is essential for SME growth and will help boost the economy, generate foreign exchange and create jobs. This investment is also a testament of IFC’s continued commitment to support the strengthening of Vietnam’s banking sector. We look forward to further expand our partnership with TPBank, as well as our entire investment and advisory programme in the Vietnam financial sector, to support the country’s economic growth and integration.”

 

Since the introduction of IFC’s GTFP programme in Vietnam in 2007, more than 950 guarantees have been issued by participating banks to support US$4.2 billion worth of trade finance, making Vietnam one of IFC’s top trade finance markets. IFC’s GTFP supports trade in emerging markets by providing partial or full guarantees for individual trade transactions backed by IFC’s AAA rating.