OREANDA-NEWS. May 31, 2010. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is stepping up its support to Ukrainian exporters and importers by increasing financing available under its Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) to Ukraine’ UkrEximBank by USD50 million to USD120 million. The extra funding will stimulate the development of domestic trading companies at a time when commercial lending is limited, reported the press-centre of EBRD.

The EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme promotes foreign trade to, from and within the EBRD countries of operations, including Ukraine. Through the Programme, the Bank provides guarantees to international confirming banks, taking the political and commercial payment risk of international trade transactions undertaken by banks in the countries of operations.

UkrEximBank joined the TFP in May 2007 and has become one of the most active banks in trade finance in Ukraine. The two institutions have since cooperated in 53 TFP transactions for a total volume of USD 129 million. In 2010 alone the EBRD and UkrEximBank have covered 9 transactions for a total value of USD 49.7million. One of the transactions, where the Bank issued two guarantees for a total value of USD 43.6 million to support export of the construction services from Ukraine to Turkmenistan, was the single largest deal in the TFP’s history.

According to the Trade Facilitation Programme 2009 annual results, Ukraine ranked third (after Russia and Georgia) among all EBRD countries of operation with ninety five TFP transactions.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is the largest financial investor in Ukraine. As of 1 May 2010, it had committed over €5.0 billion through 197 projects.