42666 - GTFP United Ethi

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Summary of Investment Information

Project Number

42666

Company Name

Hibret Bank

Date SPI Disclosed

Feb 17, 2021

Country

Ethiopia

Region

Africa

Projected Board Date

Mar 19, 2021

Environmental Category

FI-3 - No Impact

Status

Pending Disbursement

Last Updated Date

Nov 19, 2025

Department

Regional Industry - FIG Africa

Industry

Financial Markets

Previous Events

Approved : Nov 11, 2004
Signed : Mar 14, 2019

Sector

Commercial Banking - Trade

Project Description

The proposed project includes an investment of up to US$10 million in HIBRET Bank Ethiopia (“HIBRET Bank” or the “Bank”) in the form of a trade finance guarantee facility for transactions with tenor up to six months.

Sponsor / Cost / Location

Product Line	IFC Investment (million USD)
Risk Management
Guarantee	7000.0
Loan
Equity

Development Impact

The project builds on GTFP's global platform, increasing access to trade finance to emerging markets. The Project will provide increased access to trade finance to the Issuing Bank's customers, including both corporates and SMEs. On the market side, the project will further connect the Issuing Bank's cross border connections, increasing the country's integration through both financial and real sector channels. It will help to link more traders to other countries and connect the country's financial markets more deeply.

The project builds on GTFP’s global platform, increasing access to trade finance to emerging markets. The Project will provide increased access to trade finance to the Issuing Bank’s customers, including both corporates and SMEs. On the market side, the project will further connect the Issuing Bank’s cross border connections, increasing the country’s integration through both financial and real sector channels. It will help to link more traders to other countries and connect the country’s financial markets more deeply.

1. A non-financial source of additionality includes GTFP's catalytic role as a trusted facilitator among cross border correspondent banks. GTFP's guarantee structure helps to reduce key elements of confirmation risk for banks that provide this essential service for trade finance. 2. The Project taps GTFP's global financial institution network for trade finance, which, along with IFC's trade finance due diligence expertise, increasing the probability of new cross border relationship formation for the Issuing Bank. 3. IFC provides comfort to the Confirming Banks by mitigating non-commercial non-environmental and social risks, such as country, regulatory, project, or political risks, while adhering to IFC's principle of political neutrality. 4. The Project is expected to help the Issuing Bank strengthen its trade finance operations. In addition, the Issuing Bank will benefit from IFC's technical expertise in redesigning its trade solutions and marketing materials.

E&S Category Rationale / Risks and Mitigation

This Project will support short-term trade finance activities. The E&S risks and impacts associated with these activities are considered minimal and the project has therefore been classified as a category FI-3 project in accordance with IFC's Sustainability Policy. The trade finance activities supported by the Project will be required to meet the requirements of the IFC's Exclusion List and other exclusions deemed necessary. The Project will not support any activities with significant E&S concerns such as: (a) involuntary resettlement; (b) risk of adverse impacts on Indigenous Peoples; (c) significant risks to or impacts on the environment, community health and safety, biodiversity, cultural heritage; or (d) significant occupational health and safety risks. It will also not support any activities related to upstream oil & gas production and activities related to coal such as coal mining, coal transportation, coal-fired power plants, or infrastructure services exclusively dedicated to support any of these activities. IFC will also review the details of the underlying trade transactions to confirm their compliance with IFC Exclusion List and any other exclusions.

Given the E&S risk nature of this project, development of a robust ESMS was not needed.

Contacts

For Inquiries About the Project, Contact

HIBRET Bank
Mr. Andualem Hailu
Chief Trade Finance Officer
+251911431444; +251114671800
AndualemH@hibretbank.com.et
Mekwor Plaza Bldg. Debre Zeit Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia P.O. 19963
www.hibretbank.com.et

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