The World Bank Group, through the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is launching a new $6 billion mechanism aimed at strengthening access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets. Backed by insurance coverage, this initiative aims to support job creation and stimulate the development of the private sector.
The program allows partner insurers to share some of the credit risk associated with loans granted. Specifically, the $6 billion credit insurance policy concluded between the IFC and a consortium of 19 international insurers is expected to support up to $10 billion in new financing.
This mechanism enables the IFC to increase its loans to commercial banks and other financial institutions. It also promotes the mobilization of private credit insurance to facilitate access to financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which represent over 90% of the global entrepreneurial fabric and nearly 70% of jobs in many emerging markets.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises are a key driver of job creation, but they still face difficulties in accessing financing in several emerging markets,” said Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the IFC. “This partnership with international insurers expands business financing while offering insurers the opportunity to diversify their portfolios and support economic growth.”
Insurers participating in the mechanism include AIG, Allianz Trade, Arch Insurance International, AXA XL, Chubb Limited, Munich Re, SCOR SE, Swiss Re, as well as Tokio Marine Holdings, among other international players in the insurance sector.
By participating in this program, insurers benefit from risk analysis and project structuring expertise from the IFC, which helps reduce operational costs and evaluation timelines in emerging markets. This approach facilitates engagement in regions less familiar to some partners and helps mobilize more resources for economic development.
