Albaraka Türk joins EBRD Trade Facilitation Programme to expand Türkiye’s global trade ties

• EBRD provides US$ 50 million trade finance limit to Albaraka Türk
• Facility marks the EBRD’s first engagement with a participation bank in Türkiye
• EBRD support to enable Turkish firms to connect with diverse markets, integrate into global chains

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has joined forces with Albaraka Türk Katılım Bankası to advance Türkiye’s trade objectives by establishing a US$ 50 million trade finance limit under its regional Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP). Albaraka Türk is the Bank’s first partner participation bank in Türkiye.

Through the facility, the EBRD will provide guarantees to international confirming banks, taking on the non-payment risk of international trade transactions conducted by Albaraka Türk. The TFP limit will enhance Albakara Türk’s capacity to meet growing demand for trade finance, support its regional expansion and strengthen Türkiye’s connectivity with key global markets, including Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The EBRD TFP will also support the transfer of trade-finance know-how through consultancy services and training courses in areas such as compliance, sustainability, digitalisation and inclusivity in trade finance.

The EBRD’s award-winning TFP currently operates in 28 economies, with an extensive network of more than 130 issuing banks and over 800 confirming banks, strengthening correspondent banking relationships, developing links between new markets and promoting intraregional transactions. Through the TFP, the EBRD provides guarantees and short-term loans to local banks, enabling smoother trade flows and increasing access to new markets for local businesses. To date, the EBRD has supported more than 36,000 global trade transactions totalling €42 billion across its regions.

Francis Malige, Head of the EBRD’s Financial Institutions Business Group, said: “We are pleased to partner with Albaraka Türk under the Trade Facilitation Programme, marking an important step in welcoming the first participation bank to our network in Türkiye. This facility will help to strengthen the bank’s trade finance capacity, support businesses engaged in international trade, and further enhance Türkiye’s connectivity with key global markets.”

Malek Temsah, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Albaraka Türk, said: “Our partnership with the EBRD under the Trade Facilitation Programme represents a strategic milestone for Albaraka Türk and for participation banking in Türkiye. As the first participation bank in the country to join the EBRD’s TFP as an issuing bank, we are proud to further strengthen our integration into global trade finance networks.

“The US$ 50 million TFP limit will enhance our capacity to support Turkish corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises in expanding their international reach, facilitating sustainable cross-border trade and contributing to Türkiye’s export-driven growth. This collaboration reflects our continued commitment to responsible banking, environmental, social and governance-aligned financing and delivering Shariah-compliant solutions that connect our clients to global markets.”

The EBRD is one of Türkiye’s key investors, with more than €23.6 billion committed across the country since 2009, largely in the private sector.