World Bank Group and SMBC Partner to Expand Access to Finance for Small Businesses Across Emerging Markets

Miami, United States, October 2, 2026 — The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector, and SMBC today announced a new supply chain finance facility designed to expand access to affordable working capital for small and medium-sized businesses in emerging markets, helping them get paid faster, build lasting financial resilience, and support employment in the communities where they operate.

The program anchors credit to the financial strength of large buyers rather than suppliers themselves, enabling smaller businesses — many of them SMEs — to receive early payment on invoices at rates they could not access on their own. The first anchor buyer joining the facility is a large food manufacturer in Latin America, with the model built from the outset to expand to additional buyers across sectors and markets.

The facility totals $500 million, with IFC committing up to $250 million in direct funding and SMBC contributing the remaining half on equal terms. IFC's funded participation adds real credit capacity to the system, enabling SMBC to serve a broader range of suppliers, at longer tenors and higher volumes, than would be commercially viable without a development finance partner.

Access to finance remains one of the most persistent barriers to growth for businesses in emerging markets. The MSME finance gap runs into the trillions, constraining their ability to invest, expand, and create jobs. Many are excluded from formal banking not for lack of creditworthiness, but for lack of a documented financial track record. By giving suppliers a consistent, verifiable history of transactions - starting with early payment within days of a buyer approving an invoice — the facility aims to deliver not only immediate financing but also the financial credentials needed to access broader banking services over time, turning working capital into a pathway to lasting financial inclusion.

"Supply chain finance is one of the most effective tools to put working capital directly in the hands of small businesses in emerging markets — quickly, affordably, and at scale," said Nathalie Louat, Global Director for Trade and Supply Chain Finance at IFC. "By partnering with SMBC and leveraging the creditworthiness of established buyers, we can reach suppliers that the market alone would not serve, giving them not just liquidity today, but the financial footing to grow their businesses and create jobs."

“Supporting resilient global supply chains is a key priority for SMBC. Our partnership with IFC enhances our ability to provide working capital solutions to suppliers, enabling them to manage liquidity more effectively, support business growth, and contribute to the stability and efficiency of global trade and supply chains,” said Priyamvada Singh, Global Head of Sales, Global Trade Finance, SMBC.

The facility was structured through IFC's Global Supply Chain Finance (GSCF) program, which since its launch in 2023 has supported over $3.8 billion in supplier finance transactions.