29 July 2020

ADB, HSBC to Finance $1.2 Billion in Trade to Boost Supplies of Pandemic Products in Asia and the Pacific

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (29 July 2020) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and HSBC have launched a program to support up to $1.2 billion a year in trade by companies in Asia and the Pacific producing goods crucial to the ongoing fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.  

The targeted financing available through the new program will support trade in multiple sectors affected by the pandemic, including pharmaceuticals and apparel as well as critical medical supplies that might not otherwise be available. It will provide much-needed support for small- and medium-sized companies in the region.

“Partnerships, like this one with HSBC, are critical to closing market gaps, ensuring that we fuel growth necessary to build back the global economy, and creating jobs and prosperity,” said ADB Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program Head Steven Beck. “This partnership will complement ADB’s own ground-breaking efforts to map the supply chain for products critical to the fight against COVID-19, and to support trade flows that will drive the recovery.”

The move comes shortly after the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce, and B20 warned in a joint statement of a trade finance shortfall totaling between $2 trillion and $5 trillion that could impede the ability of trade to support the global economic recovery.

“Trade has a critical role to play in both the frontline fight against COVID-19 and in supporting the global recovery,” said Global Head of Trade and Receivables Finance at HSBC Natalie Blyth. “This agreement will help ensure that trade finance gets to where it is needed and when to support the production and distribution of essential medical supplies and the return to growth.”

ADB has boosted its capacity to support trade and supply chains with more money and flexibility for its $2.4 billion Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program. Trade finance deals and partnerships will help to bridge the trade finance gap and enable ADB members to counter the severe health and macroeconomic impacts caused by COVID-19.

ADB’s support for developing members to cope with, and recover from, the impact of COVID-19 includes an enhanced support package of $20 billion, announced on 13 April.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

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