IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Bank CenterCredit today announced a partnership to help Kazakh importers and exporters, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), gain greater access to the cross-border financing they need to trade internationally.
Photo credit: Archive of BCC
Under the agreement, Bank CenterCredit joins IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) as both an issuing and confirming bank, becoming IFC’s only current partner bank in Kazakhstan under the program. The partnership also marks IFC’s re-engagement with BCC, a long-standing client. Backed by IFC’s guarantees, Bank CenterCredit will be able to issue and confirm trade finance instruments, such as letters of credit, giving companies from Kazakhstan more reliable access to the financing that underpins international trade.
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.
“Joining IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program is an important milestone for us,” said Ruslan Vladimirov, President of Bank CenterCredit. “This facility will allow us to expand our trade finance offering, better serve our corporate and SME clients, and support Kazakhstan’s growing role in regional and global trade.”
“We are pleased to welcome Bank CenterCredit as IFC’s sole active GTFP partner bank in Kazakhstan,” said Zafar Khashimov, IFC Country Manager for Kazakhstan. “By expanding access to internationally backed trade finance instruments, this partnership will help businesses from Kazakhstan, especially SMEs, pursue new markets, strengthen supply chains, and participate more actively in regional and global trade. In doing so, it will support business growth, job creation, and greater economic resilience in Kazakhstan.”
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 (International Development Association) countries.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. IFC works in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
General Banking License No. 1.1.856.145 dated 5 August 2026, issued by the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market.
