IFC and Bank CenterCredit Partner to Boost Trade Finance in Kazakhstan

August 24, 2026 at 09:23 AM2 min

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IFC and Bank CenterCredit announced a partnership to expand trade finance access for Kazakh importers and exporters, especially SMEs. Bank CenterCredit joins IFC's Global Trade Finance Program as both issuing and confirming bank, becoming IFC's only current partner bank in Kazakhstan under the program. The partnership marks IFC's re-engagement with BCC, a long-standing client.

Key Facts

Bank CenterCredit joins IFC's Global Trade Finance Program as both issuing and confirming bank, becoming IFC's only current partner bank in Kazakhstan under the program.
The partnership is expected to be particularly impactful for SMEs, which often face the greatest barriers to securing trade finance.
Since its launch in 2005, the GTFP has supported over $141 billion in trade through more than 100,000 transactions.
Ruslan Vladimirov, President of Bank CenterCredit, called joining the program an important milestone for the bank.
Zafar Khashimov, IFC Country Manager for Kazakhstan, said the partnership will help businesses pursue new markets and strengthen supply chains.

Partnership Details

Under the agreement, Bank CenterCredit joins IFC's Global Trade Finance Program as both an issuing and confirming bank. Backed by IFC's guarantees, Bank CenterCredit will be able to issue and confirm trade finance instruments, such as letters of credit. The partnership marks IFC's re-engagement with BCC, a long-standing client. Bank CenterCredit becomes IFC's only current partner bank in Kazakhstan under the program.

SME Impact

The partnership is expected to be particularly impactful for SMEs, which often face the greatest barriers to securing trade finance. Smaller firms are frequently turned away because banks lack the risk capacity or correspondent relationships to support their cross-border transactions. By leveraging IFC's global network and risk mitigation tools, Bank CenterCredit will be better positioned to support companies from Kazakhstan seeking to grow their international trade activities.

GTFP Program

The GTFP is IFC's flagship trade finance program, providing confirming banks with risk coverage on trade transactions across emerging markets. Since its launch in 2005, it has supported over $141 billion in trade through more than 100,000 transactions. The program supports key strategic priorities, including job creation and food security, with many of the beneficiary firms operating in IDA countries.