Trade facilitation showcase

Since the relaunch of the Trade Facilitation Programme in 1999, the EBRD has guaranteed and financed around 2,400 foreign trade transactions totalling over €1.4 million.

These examples provide a flavour of the programme's impact in the region.

Export of goods from western Europe to Ukraine

An exporter in western Europe aimed to increase its export of goods to Ukraine. A Ukrainian issuing bank under the Trade Facilitation Programme opened a letter of credit to a foreign confirming bank payable in several instalments after delivery. The EBRD guaranteed the payment of the issuing bank to the confirming bank. The confirming bank discounted the letter of credit to the exporter without recourse.

Export of wheat from Kazakhstan to Madeira

The export of wheat from Kazakhstan to Madeira for US$ 2 million was supported by the programme. The confirming bank took 50 per cent of the risk directly and the EBRD provided its guarantee for US$ 1 million. The transaction promoted the transition process by supporting a Kazakh export to a destination that has little experience of working with the CIS, thereby helping to establish an export market.

Import of wheat from Kazakhstan to Moldova

In 2003 the EBRD trade facilitation programme recorded its 2000th transaction with a letter of credit issued by Mobiasbanca, Moldova to Kazkommertsbank, Kazakhstan for the import of Kazakh grain by a private Moldovan importer.