IFC increases trade finance limits to support Vietnamese businesses amid COVID-19

IFC raises trade finance limits to help Vietnamese businesses deal with challenges from the COVID-19 outbreak

The spread of COVID-19 has caused business disruptions in Vietnam since the first case was announced in late January. Apart from a fall in tourism and associated services, the epidemic has affected cross-border trade, impacting manufacturing, agribusiness, and other sectors.

In response, IFC is supporting Vietnamese businesses by increasing trade limits for four client commercial banks, including An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank, TienPhong Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank, and Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank. The increased total limit of $294 million will enable these banks to improve their capacity to cover payment risks in granting trade financing to local companies, mostly small- and medium-sized enterprises.

“VIB welcomes this timely and meaningful initiative to cope with possible liquidity constraints and de-risking trends during this challenging period,” said Han Ngoc Vu, CEO cum member of the Board of Directors of Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB). “IFC’s guarantee will help local banks significantly extend trade finance to more importers and exporters, some of whom are credit-constrained and rely on bank trade facilities to manage cash flows and purchase raw inputs.”

This initiative complements the State Bank of Vietnam’s call to financial institutions to support local businesses, which may be affected by the coronavirus outbreak – particularly those in trade and supply chain linkages.

“Leveraging IFC’s global experience in responding to several economic crises in the past, the decision to increase trade limits is an effort to ensure continued trade flows during this challenging phase. The expanded trade finance line will help mitigate trade finance risks, thus softening the impact of COVID-19 on the Vietnamese economy and the private sector,” said Mehmet Mumcuoglu, IFC Financial Institutions group manager for East Asia and the Pacific.

“IFC’s initiative, an effective response to help ensure resiliency, shows our confidence in our local partner banks as well as our commitment to strengthen Vietnam’s economy,” said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR.

Following this fast-to-implement and flexible trade finance instrument, IFC is exploring other expanded interventions to extend its support to Vietnam to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and help the nation sustain robust economic growth.