The Export Development Fund and the Export Import Bank of Pakistan, known as Pak EXIM, have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening the country’s export ecosystem, with a particular focus on supporting small and medium enterprise exporters. The agreement formalizes collaboration between the two institutions on several initiatives designed to expand access to finance and risk mitigation tools for smaller exporting businesses.
At the center of the partnership is the establishment of a Joint Risk Pool intended to support SME exporters through Pak EXIM’s Export and Trade Credit Insurance product suite. The arrangement is designed to help shield smaller exporters from political and commercial risks associated with international trade, while also improving their access to financing, an area that has long been identified as a persistent constraint on SME export growth in Pakistan. By combining risk coverage with improved financing access, the two institutions aim to address two of the most common barriers smaller exporters face when trying to expand into international markets.
Additional areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement include co-funding arrangements to support export financing, the development of credit guarantees intended to expand bank lending to the SME export sector, and joint efforts to promote green and sustainable export initiatives aligned with Pakistan’s broader environmental and trade goals. Both institutions said they intend to translate the agreement into concrete steps as the various initiatives take shape over the coming months, framing the partnership as part of a shared effort to improve Pakistan’s overall export competitiveness.
The signing ceremony was attended by Secretary of Finance Imdad Ullah Bosal and Secretary of Commerce Jawad Paul, whose presence reflected the government’s continued interest in initiatives tied to export development and support for the country’s exporting businesses. The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Muhammad Saeed, advisor to the prime minister and member of the EDF Board, and Shahbaz H. Syed, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pak EXIM, in the presence of senior officials, EDF Board members, and representatives from trade bodies and the broader exporting community, underscoring the level of institutional backing behind the initiative as it moves toward implementation.
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