UK export finance agency offers up to £2bn support for Bangladesh buyers
Dhaka: UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government's export credit agency, is highlighting up to £2 billion in financing capacity to help Bangladeshi buyers purchase UK goods and services for projects across key sectors.
UKEF is engaging with Bangladesh's government, financial institutions, and business leaders this week to raise awareness of its financing solutions for projects involving UK suppliers, according to a press release from the UK High Commission in Dhaka on September 3.
The agency has available country capacity of between £1 billion and £2 billion, which can support eligible Bangladeshi buyers in sectors including transport, agriculture, healthcare, airports, manufacturing, renewable energy, and infrastructure.
UKEF provides guarantees, loans, and insurance designed to help projects secure competitive financing when they involve UK goods, services, or expertise.
Its financing support can be provided in more than 60 local currencies and includes long-term facilities such as the Buyer Credit Facility, Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee, Direct Lending Facility, and Early Project Services Guarantee.
A UK delegation is visiting Bangladesh from 2 to 4 September to meet government officials, banks, and private-sector representatives and explore opportunities where UK technology, expertise, and financing can contribute to the country's development priorities.
The delegation includes Mark Birrell, Trade Counsellor for South Asia; Sandeep Kudtarkar, UKEF Country Head for India, Bangladesh, and Nepal; and Rohini Aggarwal, Head of Trade Policy for South Asia.
The delegation is also holding discussions with financial institutions, including Standard Chartered Bangladesh, HSBC, and the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICC Bangladesh), on how UKEF support can help address financing needs and facilitate trade and investment between the UK and Bangladesh.
Mark Birrell, Trade Counsellor for South Asia, said the UK and Bangladesh have an “important and long-standing economic relationship."
“This visit will allow us to hear directly from government and business leaders and explore where UK companies, expertise, and finance can support innovation, growth, and development,” he said.
