OREANDA-NEWS. Sberbank's new product "Business Contract" for exporters allows small business clients to finance export contracts with coverage from the Export Insurance Agency of Russia (EXIAR).

Loans are made for terms up to 24 months and for up to 80% of the export contract. There are no country restrictions and the EXIAR insurance covers 70% of the loan.

Prior to launching this new product Sberbank and EXIAR signed an agreement to establish and implement a program to finance export oriented SME and medium sized exporters. The first deals completed by medium sized businesses were successful.

"SME accounts for about 27% of exports in OECD countries; in Russia this figure is several times lower. By offering our clients products for financing export with EXIAR coverage we provide an additional impulse for the development of SME exports," said Vice-President, Head of Small Business Development, Sberbank, Andrey Sharov.

"Financing exporters with the help of EXIAR is a banking industry best practice for supporting exports. We believe that the joint program with EXIAR will attract more SMEs to international trade," said Senior Managing Director, Head of Trade Finance and Correspondence Relations Division at Sberbank CIB, Andrey Ivanov.