KARACHI: Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, have announced a new USD400 million risk-participation facility aimed at expanding short-term trade and working capital financing for major local corporations and exporters.
The initiative is designed to help strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange inflows and support sustainable economic growth.
Rehan Shaikh, CEO & Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, said the new partnership further strengthened the bank’s long-standing relationship with IFC. He noted that, with Standard Chartered’s strong focus on trade and its presence in 53 markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the bank plays a significant role in improving access to capital and promoting global trade.
SCB and IFC to boost unfunded RPP to $400m
He added that the collaboration would enable the bank to better support its clients, helping them expand their operations and enhance their growth potential. Momina Aijazuddin, IFC’s Regional Head of Industry for the Financial Institutions Group in the Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, said the agreement represented an important milestone in IFC’s ongoing partnership with Standard Chartered.
She stated that by doubling the size of the Risk-Participation Facility, IFC aimed to unlock essential trade and working-capital financing for businesses that drive growth, generate employment, and contribute to Pakistan’s long-term economic resilience.
She emphasised that the initiative demonstrated IFC’s deep commitment to supporting export-oriented industries and advancing inclusive, sustainable development.
Formalised in September 2025, the new facility builds on a USD200 million joint program launched in December 2022. Leveraging the combined expertise of IFC and Standard Chartered in Pakistan’s export-driven sectors, the initiative aims to expand access to trade and working-capital loans, including supply-chain financing and sustainable finance products.
The partnership is expected to play a key role in supporting Pakistan’s manufacturing and export landscape while contributing to long-term economic stability.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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