Press Release

IFC and Coris Bank Partner to Boost Trade Finance in Guinea

March 6, 2024

Conakry, Guinea, March 4, 2024 – To help boost trade in Guinea amidst local and global challenges, IFC today announced a trade finance facility of up to $5 million for Coris Bank International Guinea (CBI Guinea).

The trade facility, which falls under IFC's Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP), will provide per-transaction guarantees for CBI's trade finance operations. By decreasing CBI's risk during a time of regional economic uncertainty, IFC will support CBI Guinea to help more businesses finance the imports of essential goods, including foodstuffs, construction materials, and vehicles.

IFC's investment is part of the $1 billion African Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (ATRI), which was created to support Africa's regional trade development, helping reduce the continent's reliance on imports and reducing the trade finance gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For Coris Bank International Guinée, this partnership proves our ability to forge strategic partnerships with major institutions such as IFC. It gives us the guarantees we need to continue supporting trade development between Guinea and the rest of the world", says Christelle Dieng, Managing Director of CBI Guinea.

"Trade plays a key role in Guinea, which is endowed with considerable natural resources. Increasing the availability of trade finance in Guinea is therefore critical to support businesses and jobs and help keep trade flowing in the country," said Claude Owona, IFC's Manager for Financial Institutions for West Africa. "Access to trade financing is especially important as businesses face new challenges arising from regional and global economic uncertainty."

IFC's GTFP extends and complements the capacity of banks to deliver trade financing by providing risk mitigation in new or challenging markets where trade lines may be constrained. Under the program, IFC has issued guarantees worth more than $100 billion globally to date. In financial year 2023 alone, IFC issued $9.1 billion, of which $3.5 billion was in Africa.

IFC's strategic priorities for Guinea focus on supporting the development of a sustainable mining sector, increasing access to finance for MSMEs, improving the business climate, and supporting agribusiness value chains. As of March 2024, IFC had an active investment portfolio of US$ 250 million in Guinea that is supporting these key sectors.

About IFC

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

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About Coris Bank International Guinée

One of the eleven subsidiaries of the Coris Group, Coris Bank International Guinée set up in Guinea in 2021 under the model of a universal bank with priority given to supporting SMSs/SMSIs, the essential part of economic fabric of Guinea.

Since the start of its activities two (2) years ago, Coris Bank International Guinée has demonstrated remarkable dynamism in the banking sector, making it a leading financial partner in the country.

Thus as of December 31, 2023, it was classified:

  • 16th out of 20 banks in resource collection ;
  • 14th out of 20 banks in the balance sheet;
  • 9th out of 20 banks in financing the economy

This feat is the result of a service focused on digital development, tailor-made customer support and better quality of service delivery.

For more information, we invite you to visit our site:

 https://guinee.coris.bank

Contact us : Email : corisbank-gn@coris-bank.com


Contacts

Abdoul Maiga
Dakar
+ 221 77 638 29 41