Islamabad, Pakistan – Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are set to enhance their unfunded Risk-Participation Programme (RPP) to $400 million, significantly increasing access to trade finance for businesses across Pakistan.
Building on the success of the existing $200 million equivalent programme, the expansion aims to support short-term trade and working capital facilities for key local corporates and exporters.
This move will provide crucial liquidity to businesses, enabling them to expand their reach, fulfill international trade commitments, and contribute to foreign exchange inflows—an essential driver of Pakistan’s economic growth.
Rehan Shaikh, CEO & Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, highlighted the significance of this development, stating, “Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan is proud to deepen its longstanding relationship with IFC through this pioneering agreement – the first of its kind between IFC and SC Pakistan.
As a trade-focused bank with a presence in 52 markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, we play a critical role in expanding access to capital and facilitating global trade. This collaboration enables us to support our clients in strengthening their growth potential.”
The programme marks a key milestone in IFC’s and Standard Chartered’s global collaboration, leveraging their extensive experience with export-based and large-scale manufacturing industries in Pakistan.
The expanded facility will offer enhanced trade and working capital loan solutions, including supply chain financing and sustainable finance products, further strengthening Pakistan’s trade ecosystem.
Momina Aijazuddin, Regional Head of Industry of IFC’s Financial Institutions Group for the Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of supporting SMEs in Pakistan.
She noted, “SMEs contribute 40% to Pakistan’s GDP, yet fewer than 200,000 out of an estimated 3.2 million SMEs have access to formal credit.
By strengthening our collaboration with Standard Chartered Pakistan and expanding the Risk Participation Facility, we aim to advance efforts to provide SMEs and export-driven sectors with the working capital they need to grow and succeed.”
The partnership between Standard Chartered Pakistan and IFC underscores a shared commitment to financial inclusion and economic progress.
By enhancing trade finance accessibility, both organizations aim to create a more resilient trade ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and economic inclusion across key sectors in Pakistan.
