Welcome to ECA Watch

Export credit agences provide government-backed loans, guarantees and insurance to corporations working internationally in some of the most volatile, controversial and damaging industries on the planet.

Shrouded in mystery, ECAs provide financial backing for risky projects that might never otherwise get off the ground. They are a major source of national debt in developing countries.

ECA Watch is a network of NGOs from around the world. We come together to campaign for ECA reform - better transparency, accountability, and respect for environmental standards and human rights.

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What's New September 2021

What's New!" is a periodic update to keep you informed of the latest on the ECA Watch website. What's New! features a wide range of materials related to the reform of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) including NGO publications and releases, news articles, commentaries and announcements about the policies and practices of ECAs and ECA-financed projects world-wide.

If you would like to receive "What's New!" simply add your e-mail to the ECA-Action list at www.eca-watch.org today!

Questions? Email info-at-eca-watch.org

See all "What's New!" updates since 2005 here.

  • U.S., Europe at OECD Seek to End Export Financing for Coal
  • New report reveals German government sabotages international energy transition
  • SACE and NEXI finance large carbon bomb vessel for Dutch SBM Offshore
  • UKEF is ‘exaggerating’ the number of businesses helped
  • Aligning export finance to sustainable development goals
  • UKEF targets net zero emissions by 2050
  • Swedish ECA launches Green Guarantee to promote climate investments
  • ECAs and the Impact of Plastics on Human Rights
  • SACE says exports to return to pre-COVID levels this year
  • Exim India extends $100 mn loan to Africa Finance Corp for infra development
  • SACE backs Lima Metro Line 2
  • Saudi EXIM Bank signs a reinsurance agreement with ICIEC
  • Will ECAs support Afghan projects under the Taliban

U.S., Europe at OECD Seek to End Export Financing for Coal

(Wall Street Journal, Paris, 14 September 2021) The U.S., the European Union, South Korea and other wealthy nations are moving to forbid their export-financing agencies from supporting coal-fired power projects overseas, in an effort to end government support for a fuel that is one of the world’s biggest sources of greenhouse gases. The proposed ban, which will be made this week at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, is part of the West’s campaign to push China, India and other big developing countries to take a tough position against coal ahead of the November climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. China and India have resisted entreaties by the U.S. and Europe to commit to end subsidies for coal-fired electricity, raising fears that deadlock over the issue could result in the collapse of climate negotiations in Glasgow. The OECD, a Paris-based organization of 38 developing and developed economies, oversees an agreement governing export-credit agencies, which provide financing for overseas customers of the countries’ domestic companies. The U.S., the 27 nations of the EU, the U.K., Norway, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and Turkey are signatories of the deal. In other news the US Treasury has instructed representatives at multilateral development banks to support clean energy projects over fossil fuels, putting the fate of several gas projects in the balance. Interestingly no news could be found on the OECD website today on the results of the OECD coal negotiations on September 15-16. The OECD web site divulges no results at all for searches re export credit and their ECA work page is burried very deep in their site map and shows no postings since September 8th. Indications are that there were differences over the definition of "unabated coal fired plants" to be banned, whether to include gas and mining or transport of coal. Further meetings are planned for October 12th and 20th. As world leaders met for a high level dialogue on energy at the UN in New York, 200 green groups urged them to embrace renewables and stop financing all fossil fuels.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-europe-seek-to-end-export-financing-for-coal-11...


New report reveals German government sabotages international energy transition

(Urgewald, Berlin, 15 September 2021) A new report by the environmental organisations urgewald and Deutsche Umwelt-Hilfe (DUH) shows that the German government is supporting climate-damaging oil and gas projects with guarantees worth billions of euros. In the report, the organisations examine climate-damaging oil and gas-related export credit guarantees as well as untied loan guarantees (UFK guarantees) for the period 2015 to May 2021. During this time, the German government approved 144 export guarantees in the oil and gas sector with a total volume of more than 11.75 billion euros via Euler Hermes AG. Of the 28 countries in which oil and gas guarantees were granted, 15 are considered "not free", according to Freedom House. The report is based on data made available to the two organisations by the German government through a Freedom of Information Act request.

https://www.eca-watch.org/publications/new-report-reveals-german-government-sabo...


SACE and NEXI finance large carbon bomb vessel for Dutch SBM Offshore

(Offshore Technology, London, 16 September 2021) Dutch floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) operator SBM Offshore has completed the largest project financing in its history, of the vessel FPSO Sepetiba, for a total of $1.6bn. SBM Offshore was established in 1862 and its main activity is to design, supply, install, operate, and maintain FPSO vessels. It accounts for over 1,660,000 [barrels?] of total fleet oil production capacity. The project financing was secured by a consortium of 13 international banks, with insurance cover from Nippon Export and Investment Insurance and SACE. The vessel has a processing capacity of up to 180,0000 (sic) barrels of oil per day, a water injection capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, associated gas treatment capacity of 12mmscm, and a minimum storage capacity of 1.4mmbbl. It will be moored in approximately 2,000m water depth and will be deployed at the Mero field in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil. The Libra block, where the Mero field is located, is under a production sharing agreement with a consortium comprised of Petrobras as the operator with 40% interest; Shell with 20%; TotalEnergies with 20%; China Southern Petroleum Exploration and Development Corporation with 10%; and China National Offshore Oil Corporation with 10% interest. Petrobras, a state-owned Brazilian multinational corporation in the petroleum industry, awarded a contract to SBM Offshore for the 22.5 years lease and operation of the FPSO for the Mero field in December 2019. The Guardian notes that carbon bombs, gigantic coal, oil and gas projects from around the world, if they go ahead, will raise global emissions and cause dangerous climate change.

https://www.offshore-technology.com/news/sbm-offshore-largest-project-financing/


UKEF is ‘exagerating’ the number of businesses helped

(The Times, London, 20 September 2021) The UK's UKEF has been accused of exaggerating how many businesses it has supported, of undermining the national drive towards net-zero carbon emissions and of doing too little to help smaller exporters. MPs on the Commons’ international trade committee said that UK Export Finance had directly helped far fewer companies than its “headline figure of 549 businesses supported” in the 2020-21 financial year, with only 167 directly applying for finance and insurance. Global Trade Review also notes that the government inquiry into the work of UKEF has raised concerns over the agency’s concentration of support in certain sectors, ambiguous figures in its annual accounts, and potential exposure to environmental and human rights issues.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/government-s-export-credit-agency-is-exaggera...


Aligning export finance to sustainable development goals

(Bizcommunity, Cape Town, 23 September 2021) A clear call to action to rethink the sustainability performance of the export finance market has come out of an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) white paper. Released at a major event during United Nations (UN) General Assembly week and developed with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation and 16 leading banks, the white paper explores how the US$700bn export finance industry can significantly increase its contribution to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Paris climate accord.

https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/516/220414.html


UKEF targets net zero emissions by 2050

(Energy Live News, London, 23 September 2021) The UKEF has committed to making all of its £50 billion capacity carbon-neutral by 2050 on a net basis. Through its new climate strategy, the country’s export credit agency will increase its support for clean growth, renewables and climate adaptation exports. UKEF currently has a £50 billion capacity to support UK exports through loans and insurance. Through the new agreement, this capacity will be entirely carbon-neutral by 2050 on a net basis. It hopes its actions can inspire more financial institutions to take action ahead of COP26 in less than 50 days. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, International Trade Secretary, said: “UKEF’s net zero pledge shows the UK’s climate leadership and is an encouragement for other countries to follow suit. Meanwhile, a South West Business Council survey of companies finds many are not prepared to tackle emmissions and many have yet to be convinced about the economic benefits of going green and want financial support to achieve it.

https://www.energylivenews.com/2021/09/23/ukef-targets-net-zero-emissions-by-205...


Swedish ECA launches Green Guarantee to promote climate investments

(EKN, Stockholm, 15 September 2021) EKN launches a new credit guarantee to facilitate financing of green exports as well as green transition projects within Swedish exporting companies. The new guarantee covers the bank’s risk up to 80 percent instead of previously 50 percent, which increases the capacity for credit. It is offered to companies with direct or indirect exports that contribute to the climate transition. The assessment criteria’s will be based on the EU-taxonomy. EKN’s Green Guarantee covers both working capital and financing of a specific investment, in businesses contributing to the climate transition. In addition, a Scientific Climate Council, a group of academic experts, will provide advisory support to the Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN) and the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK) to assist aligning the Swedish export finance system with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal, according to a SEK press release. The climate council is the first of its kind in the world and will focus on issues such as the role of natural gas for the energy transition in low- and middle-income countries.

https://www.ekn.se/en/about-ekn/newsroom/archive/2021/press-releases/green-guara...


ECAs and the Impact of Plastics on Human Rights

(IISD, Winnipeg, 16 September 2021) A UN Special Rapporteur has issued 2 reports on human rights in the area of hazardous substances. The report calls for phasing out subsidies and export credit and guarantees for fossil fuel extraction, plastics production facilities, and plastic-to-energy projects. One report addresses the stages of the plastics cycle and their impacts on human rights, and focuses on the right to science in the context of toxic substances. Marcos Orellana, the UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, writes that the global plastics crisis reveals how every stage of the plastics cycle, including extraction and refining, production, transport, use, and waste. has adverse effects on the full enjoyment of human rights. The report (A/76/207) includes recommendations to address the negative consequences of the plastics cycle on human rights and integrate a human rights-based approach in transitioning to a chemically safe circular economy.

http://sdg.iisd.org/news/special-rapporteur-highlights-right-to-science-impact-o...


SACE says exports to return to pre-COVID levels this year

(ANSA, Rome, 14 September 2021) The global economy's rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will see Italian exports return to pre-pandemic levels this year and grow further in the coming years, export credit agency SACE said in a report on Tuesday. SACE forecast that Italian exports would increase 11.3% this year, with foreign sales of Italian goods worth 482 billion euros. It said exports would then grow by 5.4% in 2022 and by 4% in 2023.

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/business/2021/09/14/exports-to-return-to-pre-co...


Exim India extends $100 mn loan to Africa Finance Corp for infra development

(Business Standard, New Delhi, 31 August 2021) Exim Bank of India has extended a line of credit of $100 million on behalf of the Indian government to the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to develop infrastructure in the continent and boost economic revival of countries in the region, infrastructure required for the revival of Africa's economies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/exim-bank-extends-100-mn-loan-...


SACE backs Lima Metro Line 2

(Global Legal Chronicle, Rome, 2 September 2021) A syndicate of lenders, including Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, KfW IPEX-Bank, Société Générale, Banco Santander and Instituto de Crédito Oficial E.P.E. – ICO, provided a US$811 million syndicated credit facility backed by the Italian export credit Agency SACE, involving the securitization of Peruvian government-backed payment rights for the extension of Lima's Metro Line 2. The export credit agency-backed syndicated loan involved a securitization of RPI-CAOs and will be used to finance the development and construction of the Lima Metro Line 2 and is the largest RPI-CAO deal ever financed under a credit facility financing structure in Peru.

https://www.globallegalchronicle.com/lima-metro-line-2s-securitization-and-eca-b...


Saudi EXIM Bank signs a reinsurance agreement with ICIEC

(Saudi Gazette, Jeddah, 3 September 2021) The Saudi Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) has signed an agreement with the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), to launch a special insurance product that helps Saudi banks to provide more credit facilities for the export of Saudi non-oil products, and enable them to increase their ability to enhance letter of credit received from foreign banks for the benefit of Saudi exporters.

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/610535/SAUDI-ARABIA/EXIM-Bank-signs-a-reinsu...


Will ECAs support Afghan projects under the Taliban

(Bloomberg Opinion, 7 September 2021) In an opinion written for Bloomberg, the former Governor of the central bank of Afghanistan (DAB) notes: "There are optimistic suggestions that the hard-won integration of Afghanistan into the global economy will remain despite the ascendancy of the Taliban and the withdrawal of the U.S. A number of commentators have suggested that China — which the Taliban have declared their strongest ally — could become Afghanistan’s primary economic supporter and help the country stay part of the global system. That analysis is unrealistic. For one, it ignores the sanctions regime imposed by the international community on the Taliban... Afghanistan’s physical money supply will be impaired. This is because the central bank does not print its own currency: DAB typically receives afghanis produced by specialist firms overseas... I am relatively certain that these deliveries cannot be made... Second, the $7 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline project (TAPI) will likely not proceed. This pipeline would have brought 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from the Turkmen Galkynysh field — the world’s second largest — to  Pakistan and India. It would have generated a few hundred million dollars in transit revenues for the Government of Afghanistan... As a result of the sanctions regime and security concerns, European companies will not be able to provide equipment or the financing. They will certainly not be able to obtain insurance for the project. For now, the project has to be assumed to be dead... Third, hopes to profit from the country’s mineral resources have to be scaled back — or abandoned... these projects requires international financing and more... The Taliban will face the same economic challenges as the previous regime — but under sanctions and with much less international financial support. Afghanistan’s new rulers must face this reality, form an inclusive government and adhere to international standards. Otherwise, they will further impoverish themselves and the Afghan people."

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-09-07/the-taliban-can-t-mint-mon...


What's New August 2021

What's New!" is a periodic update to keep you informed of the latest on the ECA Watch website. What's New! features a wide range of materials related to the reform of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) including NGO publications and releases, news articles, commentaries and announcements about the policies and practices of ECAs and ECA-financed projects world-wide.

If you would like to receive "What's New!" simply add your e-mail to the ECA-Action list at www.eca-watch.org today!

Questions? Email info-at-eca-watch.org

See all "What's New!" updates since 2005 here.

  • Lexology report: Export Credit Agencies and Insurers
  • How ECAs can catch up on climate action
  • Swedish ECAs establish scientific climate council to help align with Paris Agreements
  • Can China green the Belt and Road?
  • Chinese banks and ECAs stay silent on human rights allegations
  • Australian banks defend coal exit
  • Cost of Hoima-Tanga Pipeline Hits $5b As Risk Averse Supporters Walk Away
  • World Economic Forum warns global trade finance gap could reach $2.5 trillion by 2025
  • Experts Discuss Russia’s Weak Economic Presence in Africa
  • UKEF to forge closer trade ties with Central America
  • Middle East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) in Egypt to start partial operations this year
  • NEXIM: Promoting Social Inclusion With WAYEF
  • UKEF finances 6 hospitals in Ivory Coast

Lexology report: Export Credit Agencies and Insurers

(Lexology, London, 24 August 2021) ASHURST LLP has produced a 12 page overview of official export credit agencies in the EU, OECD, UK and globally, which broadly reviews ECA history, policies, competition, budgets, sector agreements, etc. It notes that as recently as the turn of the century, the OECD Arrangement was understood to cover the vast majority of export credits globally, whereas US EXIM now estimates that in 2019 total activity provided under the rules of the OECD arrangement amounted to only 34% of total export and trade-related finance - approximately US$76 billion. The OECD arrangement is described as a 'gentlemen's agreement' among its participants, seeking to ensure there is not a race to the bottom or a crowding out of private financing options that could lead to public resources subsidising exporters. The participants to the Arrangement claim that, despite its voluntary nature, the international cooperation that regulates ECA operations has been a mainstay of the market for decades, looking to ensure that competition remains on the quality and pricing of goods and services rather than the financing terms, i.e. subsidies. However they admit that the core purpose of ECAs is to promote exports to provide jobs domestically and increase the wealth of the country they originate from. Meanwhile, ECA Watch maintains that monitoring of the implementation of the OECD Arrangement, its sectoral agreements as well as the Common Approaches on social and environmental due diligence for officially supported export credits, remains seriously inadequate. The lack of transparency in the application of due diligence procedures results in official ECA support for multiple projects to contravene international environmental, human rights and other treaties and agreements to which these ECAs' own governments are parties. While a somewhat useful overview of complex ECA agreements and practices, the report neglects the significant contraventions of international rights and the resultant trauma caused by so many official ECA supported projects on people and their families across the globe.

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=b123cf04-f8b9-4b8f-aa57-f8b525ebb...


How ECAs can catch up on climate action

(Global Trade Review, London, 4 August 2021) Export credit agencies (ECAs) are lagging private financial institutions in setting targets for reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions and are missing opportunities as the energy transition gets underway. That’s the argument of a University of Oxford paper published last week by a group of five researchers, including experts in trade, law and economics. Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney says in the paper’s foreword that ECAs “are increasingly conspicuous by their absence” in efforts by financial institutions to back a transition away from fossil fuels.
 

https://www.gtreview.com/news/global/export-credit-agencies-can-catch-climate-ac...


Swedish ECAs establish scientific climate council to help align with Paris Agreements

(EKN/SEK, Stockholm, 26 August 2021) The Scientific Climate Council, a group of academic experts, will provide advisory support to EKN and SEK to assist aligning the Swedish export finance system with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. The climate council is the first of its kind in the world and will focus on issues such as the role of natural gas for the energy transition in low- and middle-income countries. EKN’s and SEK’s climate transition efforts are at the forefront from a global perspective. Stringent requirements are set for projects that receive guarantees and credits and the Swedish export finance system was one of the first to cease export financing the extraction and transportation of coal.

https://www.ekn.se/en/about-ekn/newsroom/archive/2021/press-releases/ekn-and-sek...


Can China green the Belt and Road?

(China Daily, Beijing, 9 August 2021) The Chinese government issued a policy on July 16 encouraging Chinese businesses to integrate green development through overseas investment and cooperation. The document, titled "Green Development Guidelines for Overseas Investment and Cooperation", was jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The guidelines recommend that Chinese businesses support investments in clean energy and also cover trade, by requiring companies to speed up integration with the global green supply chain, carry out green procurement and purchase environmentally friendly products and services. The guidelines are specifically addressed to some of the most important financial institutions: the China Development Bank, China Import-Export Bank and Sinosure, China's export credit agency. In June this year, the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition, ClientEarth and the Beijing Institute of Finance and Sustainability conducted a two-day workshop on environmental and climate risk mitigation with the largest financial institutions in the Belt and Road Initiative. Although the process is not without difficulties, these institutions are developing key policies, such as categorization of projects based on environmental risks, requirements for environmental standards, impact assessments, third-party evaluations, information disclosure and public participation, grievance mechanisms, and even potential fossil fuel exclusion policies.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202108/09/WS611066b4a310efa1bd667753.html


Chinese banks and ECAs stay silent on human rights allegations

(Global Trade Review, London, 11 August 2021) Chinese banks have a “dismal” rate of engagement with concerns about the human rights impacts of their overseas investments, a new report says. The London-based Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) says China’s banks, including private, state-owned and development banks, have responded to only one of 20 requests to answer to human rights concerns raised by civil society organisations. BHRRC said that overall, it has recorded 670 allegations of human rights abuses “linked to Chinese business conduct abroad”. Countries where most complaints are recorded are Myanmar, Peru, Ecuador, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia. China’s banks’ 5% rate of response to BHRRC requests compares to the Asian and global financial sector’s response rate of 63%.

https://www.gtreview.com/news/asia/chinese-banks-stay-silent-on-human-rights-all...


Australian banks defend coal exit

(Global Trade Review, London, 28 July 2021) Australia’s banks have defended their decision to exit the thermal coal sector and pushed back against suggestions from government lawmakers that they be forced to extend financing to fossil fuels. A flurry of exits from thermal coal businesses that began mainly among European banks and export credit agencies has since spread to Asia. Economies such as South Korea and Japan, which are major buyers of Australian coal and natural gas, have now set ambitious carbon reduction targets ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November. Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter by value, and coal miners are expected to post bumper profits during the full-year reporting season for listed companies in August. The decision has angered lawmakers in the ruling conservative coalition, many of whom represent communities where coal mines and their supply chains are major employers. Submissions to an inquiry on financing for Australian export industries, launched earlier this year by a parliamentary committee on trade and investment and focusing almost exclusively on thermal coal, included suggestions that the government force banks to lend to any business that is operating legally.

https://www.gtreview.com/news/asia/australian-banks-defend-coal-exit/


Cost of Hoima-Tanga Pipeline Hits $5b As Risk Averse Supporters Walk Away

(All Africa, Cape Town, 23 August 2021) The withdrawal by risk averse lenders from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline has seen the cost of the project rise by 30 percent to $5 billion, meaning shareholders will be forced to dig deeper into their coffers to fund it. Shareholders of TotalEnergies raised this question during the annual general meeting in May, and company executives confirmed that increase in cost to $5 billion for a fully completed project, of which $2 billion will be financed through shareholders' equity and $3 billion by external funding.
Last month, the project also suffered another setback after global insurers and export credit agencies, including French multinational AXA, withdrew its support. "The underlying project is not compatible with our climate commitments," AXA wrote in July, while the UK Export Finance also turned down an application for finance, after the UK government ceased financing fossil fuel projects overseas.

https://allafrica.com/stories/202108230143.html


World Economic Forum warns global trade finance gap could reach $2.5 trillion by 2025

(Euro Money, London, 6 August 2021) The World Economic Forum has warned that the global trade finance gap could reach $2.5 trillion by 2025 as large numbers of funding applications continue to be rejected due to lack of collateral or information from the requesting entities. More than half (60%) of the banks that responded to a survey conducted by the Asian Development Bank just prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic expected an increase in the volume of trade finance requested by importers and exporters but subsequently rejected. Governments around the world have taken a variety of steps to support trade finance since the start of the pandemic, including increasing the capacity of export credit agencies, expanding working capital programmes and introducing new facilities to support exporters and importers – particularly SMEs.

https://www.euromoney.com/article/28w0si78rh0mqaoj1ze9s/treasury/smaller-firms-t...


Experts Discuss Russia’s Weak Economic Presence in Africa

(Business Post, Lagos, 24 August 2021) Russia’s weak economic presence in Africa has become a thing of concern for some experts in the country and they wonder why the nation is not aggressive with this like its ally, China. In July 2021, participants at the Association of Economic Cooperation with African States (AECAS), established under the aegis of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum (RAPF), agreed that lack of financial support was the major reason for this. Nikita Gusakov, Head of the Russian Export Credit and Investment Insurance Agency (EXIAR), reiterated that Africa was a priority for the agency. Senator Igor Morozov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, and Chairman of the Coordinating Committee on Economic Cooperation with Africa noted during one of the meetings that in conditions of pressure from sanctions, it has become necessary to find new markets, new partners and allies for Russia. “It is important for us to expand and improve competitive government support instruments for business. It is obvious that over the thirty years when Russia left Africa, a number of countries such as China, India, the United States and the European Union have significantly increased their investment opportunities there in the region,” Morozov stressed. With a renewed growing interest in Africa, Russians are feverishly looking for establishing effective ways of entry into the huge continent.

https://businesspost.ng/world/experts-discuss-russias-weak-economic-presence-in-...


UKEF to forge closer trade ties with Central America

(Export Institute, Peterborough, 12 August 2021) UK Export Finance has signed a partnership with CABEI, Central America’s leading development bank, to encourage joint financing of major clean energy, infrastructure and construction projects. Trade between the UK and Central America was worth over £1.7 billion in 2020. At least £2.5bn is now available for new business in each of Guatemala, Honduras and Panama and £1.5bn for Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Countries that can benefit from the joint financing agreement include the Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The UK signed a continuity trade deal with Mexico in December and started talks on a £5bn trade deal in March that promised an ‘Aztec-Brexit bounce’. However, as reported in IOE&IT Daily Update, the deal was rendered obsolete after the EU signed a more generous and comprehensive deal between its 27 members states and Mexico. According to a report from the House of Lords’ International Agreements Committee, the UK could now have to wait another three years to catch-up with the EU in trade with Mexico.

https://www.export.org.uk/news/576543/UK-looks-to-forge-closer-trade-ties-with-C...


Middle East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) in Egypt to start partial operations this year

(Construction Review Online, Nairobi, 25 August 2021) Financed to the tune of US$ 1.2bn by a consortium of international banks including CDP Bank, Credit Agricole Bank, and BNP Paribas with the Italian Export Credit Agency (SACE) and the Egyptian Ministry of Finance as guarantors, the Middle East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) expansion project is being undertaken by TechnipFMC. When fully completed the facility is expected to increase the production of LPG by 107%, high-octane gasoline by 60%, jet fuel by 145%, and diesel by 45%. These are the equivalent of 280,000 million tonnes (Mt), 1.6Mt, 2.2Mt, and 2.8Mt respectively.

https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/middle-east-oil-refinery-midor-in-egyp...


NEXIM: Promoting Social Inclusion With WAYEF

(This Day Alive, Lagos, 8 August 2021) The Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has introduced a specific policy intervention that is promoting economic and social inclusion of key segments of the population, in particular women and youth. UN population projections for Nigeria in 2020 indicated that about 62% of Nigerians were below 25 years old; while over 50% are women. The Women and Youth Export Facility (WAYEF) is a deliberate and targeted funding scheme to address the needs of these vulnerable groups notes NEXIM Managing Director Mr. Abba Bello. Over the years, the bank has provided enormous support for many export-oriented industries that are high employers of women and youths such as cashew, shea, hibiscus, ginger among others, where a lot of women are involved in cleaning and packaging of products for export.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/08/nexim-promoting-social-inclusio...


UKEF finances 6 hospitals in Ivory Coast

(Global Construction Review, London, 6 August 2021) UK Export Finance has lent €241m toward a €326m project to build six hospitals in the Ivory Coast, with UK-headquartered NMS Infrastructure Ltd. contracted to do the work. The hospitals will serve a catchment area of more than a million people, and will be built in Bouaké, Boundiali, Katiola, Kouto, Minignan and Ouangolodougou. The financing, a mix of buyer credit and direct lending to Ivory Coast’s Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, will fund design and construction, equipment, post-completion training and technical support.

https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/uk-finances-six-new-hospitals-million-p...


What's New July 2021

What's New!" is a periodic update to keep you informed of the latest on the ECA Watch website. What's New! features a wide range of materials related to the reform of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) including NGO publications and releases, news articles, commentaries and announcements about the policies and practices of ECAs and ECA-financed projects world-wide.

If you would like to receive "What's New!" simply add your e-mail to the ECA-Action list at www.eca-watch.org today!

Questions? Email info-at-eca-watch.org

See all "What's New!" updates since 2005 here.

  • Germany accused of hypocrisy over Arctic gas project
  • Australian ECA gives 80X more to fossil fuel projects than renewables
  • EXIM support and the Pemex Ocean fire
  • Export Development Canada Promises Net Zero by 2050
  • UKEF reports export credit arrangements for 2020
  • Australian ECA eyes bid for Pacific telecoms to block China
  • Ghanaian rail project takes off with Swedish & South African ECA backing
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports EXIM
  • U.S. EXIM Bank says 2020 financing volume still far below global rivals
  • SACE helps revive Italian steelmaker Acciaierie d'Italia
  • Insurers mourn missed chance to form EU ECA
  • Afreximbank plans $8 billion fund to offset trade-pact losses
  • New Norwegian ECA, Eksfin, begins operations

Germany accused of hypocrisy over Arctic gas project

(Sky News, London, 16 July 2021) As deadly flooding ravages parts of Germany, the country's government is still considering massive investment in a Russian-led gas project known as Arctic LNG II. Germany has been accused of "pure play hypocrisy" for complaining of the impacts of climate change brought by this week's catastrophic flooding while signalling support for a new gas project in the Arctic. Reuters has reported that France's Bpifrance, Germany’s Euler Hermes and Italy's SACE were among the state-backed international lenders considering providing about $9.5 billion in financial support for the project.

https://news.sky.com/story/european-floods-germany-accused-of-hypocrisy-over-arc...


Australian ECA gives 80X more to fossil fuel projects than renewables

(Guardian, Sydney, 6 July 2021) Australia’s export credit agency provided more than $1.5bn in finance to fossil fuel projects between 2009 and 2020, about 80X what it spent on renewables, according to a new report from Jubilee Australia. Over the same 11-year period, covering the hottest years on record globally, it provided $20m in support to renewables projects. Luke Fletcher, executive director of Jubilee Australia, argues that EFA’s support for fossil fuel projects “bucks the international trend”, risks investing in doomed projects and curtails opportunities for the country’s energy sector to modernise. Export Finance Australia has also been criticized for taking on a role as a Development Finance Institution (DFI), adding equity stakes in risky overseas infrastructure to its export insurance and lending powers in order to to compete with Chinese, Japanese and Korean ECAs. For some, this sort of reform blurs the distinction between the government and the private sector, and at worst is a form of corporate welfare, blurring the line between helping developing countries vs Australian business. Australia is the world’s largest exporter of coal and gas, yet producers in those sectors are finding it increasingly difficult to source financing from commercial lenders.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/06/australias-export-credit-age...


EXIM support and the Pemex Ocean fire

(Climate Change News, Broadstairs, 14 July 2021) Campaigners have called on the US to review its longstanding support for Mexico’s state-owned oil and gas company after a gas leak from one of its pipelines set the ocean on fire in the Gulf of Mexico.  The US export credit agency Exim bank has provided $16.14 billion in loans and guarantees to Pemex since 1998, with recent funds going to the site of the fire. For 76 years, the company has received billions of dollars in support from the US export credit agency, the Export–Import Bank (Exim), despite warnings of safety and environmental concerns.

https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/07/14/ocean-fire-raises-questions-us-supp...


Export Development Canada Promises Net Zero by 2050

(Globe Newswire, Ottawa, 22 July 2021) Export Development Canada (EDC) is committing to net zero emissions by 2050 across its business lines and in its own global operations. The Crown corporation’s plan will include interim reduction targets for the most carbon intensive sectors for 2023 and 2030, supported by sustainable finance objectives. Meanwhile, EDC may face court action in the not-too-distant future, after a legal opinion commissioned by Oil Change International and several other organizations concluded that national export credit agencies have an international legal obligation to scale back their financing for fossil fuel-related activities. Canadian mining and gas company ReconAfrica is currently exploring for oil and gas in Namibia and Botswana which could become one of the biggest oil finds of the last few decades.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/07/22/2267539/0/en/Export-Develo...


UKEF reports export credit arrangements for 2020

(Janes Defense, London, 23 June 2021) The UK's export credit agency, UK Export Financing (UKEF), revealed in its annual report on 22 June that it had underwritten a record GBP12.3 billion (USD17.1 billion) for UK industry during the 2020/21 financial year. Key transactions in the annual report included the beginning of the drawing of GBP1.13 billion to BAE Systems in support of the manufacture of Eurofighter Typhoon and BAE Systems Hawk trainer aircraft to Qatar. In addition, buyer credit guarantees for Indonesia were supplied for the acquisition of Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules medium transport aircraft (maximum liability of GBP74.6 million) and air-defence systems from Thales UK (maximum liability of GBP29.8 million).

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-government-reports-export-cred...


Australian ECA eyes bid for Pacific telecoms to block China

(Nikkei, Sydney, 20 July 2021) The government of Australia looks to support a bid by domestic telecom Telstra to buy a leading South Pacific mobile phone business reportedly eyed by a Chinese suitor, as Canberra works to limit Beijing's influence in the region. Telstra said Monday it is discussing a purchase of the Pacific operations of Jamaica-based Digicel "in partnership with the Australian government." The Australian company said any such deal for Digicel Pacific "would be with financial and strategic risk management support from the government." The government [through Export Finance Australia] would pay for half of the purchase -- estimated by local media at 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.47 billion) -- with Telstra taking a minority stake if the transaction is completed, Reuters reports. If China acquires the Pacific mobile network, it could monitor Australia’s communications to and from the region and use asset management as leverage noted John Lee, a senior researcher at the University of Sydney.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Telecommunication/Australian-alliance-eyes-bid-...


Ghanaian rail project takes off with Swedish & South African ECA backing

(TFX News, London, 7 JUly 2021) Most recently Ghana's Ministry of Finance (MoF) signed a landmark €600 million ($712 million) ECA-covered financing deal for the construction of a 100 km section of the country’s Western Railway Line running from Takoradi Port to Huni Valley. Deutsche Bank acted as mandated lead arranger for both loans. The first, backed by EKN and fully arranged by Deutsche Bank, is a €523 million loan covering the bulk of the cost. The second is a €75 million commercial loan arranged and structured by Investec to cover the downpayment on the EKN-backed financing. It is backed by South Africa’s ECIC and funded by a syndicate of Investec Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Nedbank (London branch) and Sanlam life Insurance. The Western Railway line is key to the haulage of agricultural produce and minerals from the middle belt to Takoradi Port in the south of Ghana. [The corridor is home to key bauxite mines, which are the bedrock of the country’s integrated bauxite aluminium masterplan.] The involvement of EKN and SEK reflects the significant number of Swedish sub-suppliers participating in the project. The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the project is Amandi Investment with Bluebird Finance & Projects acting as lead financial advisor for the EPC. Given South Africa’s expertise and established trade flows in rail projects, Investec and Bluebird Finance & Projects - alongside Amandi, discovered that a multitude of South African rail suppliers could be sourced for this project and in turn reached out to ECIC to support the commercial facility, a first for the South African ECA.

https://www.txfnews.com/News/Article/7213/Training-for-rail-travel-all-aboard


U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports EXIM

(US Chamber of Commerce, Washington, 1 July 2021) In a letter to the Committee on Appropriations of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Chamber noted that overseas markets represent 95% of the world’s consumers and 80% of its purchasing power. Exports already support half of all manufacturing jobs, and one in three acres of American farms is planted for hungry consumers overseas. Approximately 300,000 small- and medium-sized businesses export, accounting for one-third of all merchandise exports. The International Affairs budget and the agencies it supports play a vital enabling role for U.S. companies to tap foreign markets and create jobs and prosperity at home. The Ex-Im bank provides vital financing and guarantees to help American businesses export. In the last pre-pandemic fiscal year when the Bank was fully functional (FY 2014), Ex-Im backed export sales that supported more than 164,000 American jobs. That same year, 90% of Ex-Im’s transactions — more than 3,340 — directly supported American small businesses. Far from being a burden on the taxpayer or a subsidy for corporations, Ex-Im charges fees for its services that has generated $7 billion in revenue for the U.S. Treasury over the past two decades beyond funds it received in appropriations. Failure to support Ex-Im would amount to unilateral disarmament in the face of other nations’ aggressive trade finance programs.

https://www.uschamber.com/letters-congress/us-chamber-letter-fy22-state-and-fore...


U.S. EXIM Bank says 2020 financing volume still far below global rivals

(Reuters, Washington, 30 June 2021) The Export-Import Bank of the United States said on Wednesday it remained far behind its global competitors in financing volume in 2020 even as overall financing activity fell due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its annual competition report here to Congress, EXIM said it authorized $1.8 billion in official medium- and long-term export credit support during calendar 2020, compared with global leader China at $18 billion, France at $12.1 billion, Germany at $8.6 billion and South Korea at $5 billion. China, traditionally the largest provider of export credit, saw its financing volume decrease last year from over $33 billion in 2019.

https://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSL2N2OC3DH?il=0


SACE helps revive Italian steelmaker Acciaierie d'Italia

(SteelOrbis, Brescia, 1 July 2021) Invitalia, the public shareholder, by entering the board, is expected to implement contractual commitments, in all a little over €2 billion - €400 million of capital increase - have already been paid, while about €700 million are missing in guarantees for a SACE [Italian export credit agency] loan, plus €900 million in reimbursements and support for variously assorted investments,  Steel magnate ArcelorMittal has so far supported the company with a capital payment of €1.8 billion. Now it is up to the Italian State through Invitalia to do what was agreed, based on the contract that was signed in December 2020, stated Acceaierie CEO Lucia Morselli. She added "The market is favorable and the company is working hard. However, until August 2023 we must comply with environmental constraints that prevent us from accelerating production even more." 

https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/italys-acciaierie-ditalia-retu...


Insurers mourn missed chance to form EU ECA

(Global Capital, London, 30 June 2021) Europe missed an opportunity to use the debate over the future of development finance to establish an insurance guarantee agency to attract private capital needed to help them hit targets for investment into emerging markets, according to experts in trade finance and insurance. Policymakers spent two years debating whether to use the EBRD or the European Investment Bank as a platform for a new single development bank before deciding to stick with the current set-up augmented by a more collaborative approach dubbed “Team Europe”. An EU development insurer could also use reinsurance to mobilise substantial amounts of non-development finance institutional capital from the private insurance market and from EU export credit agencies, Paul Mudde, former trade finance professional at ABN Amro and trade credit insurer Atradius, said. The problem, in his view, was that in the EU discussions about the European Financial Architecture for Development (EFAD) an insurance approach, like the World bank’s MIGA, had never been considered.

https://www.globalcapital.com/article/b1shr452dndz04/insurers-mourn-missed-chanc...


Afreximbank plans $8 billion fund to offset trade-pact losses

(Bloomberg, London, 15 July 2021) African nations plan to raise about $8 billion for a fund to help offset revenue losses for countries that lower cross-border tariffs, as part of a continent-wide free-trade agreement. The African Export-Import Bank, or Afreximbank, has already provided $1 billion for the fund after the African Union set it up to help cushion sudden revenue losses and encourage participation. The free-trade area went into effect on Jan. 1. The $1 billion made available by Afreximbank will be used to leverage funding from other multilateral development-finance institutions, export credit agencies, commercial banks and donors. Afreximbank, in collaboration with the African Union, will hold intra-Africa trade fair in South Africa in November to provide access to trade and market information to companies and countries. In addition, it’s planning “face-to-face training workshops’’ in 13 countries from October to build the capacity required to meet trade targets, the lender said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-15/africa-plans-8-billion-fund-t...


New Norwegian ECA, Eksfin, begins operations

(ShipInsight, Oslo, 2 July 2021) Oslo-headquartered Export Finance Norway (Eksfin.no), the result of a merger between former government agencies GIEK and Export Credit Norway, has opened its doors and is fully operational from 1 July 2021. The merger of the two predecessor agencies forms part of a larger redesign by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries of the government apparatus around export promotion and export credit financing to make the system easier to navigate for end users.

https://shipinsight.com/articles/new-norwegian-export-credit-agency-eksfin-begin...


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