Ukraine axes ban on ECA-backed loan repayments

(Global Trade Review, London, 19 June 2023) Ukraine’s central bank has lifted restrictions on domestic firms’ repayments on loans backed by foreign export credit agencies (ECAs), wagering that the move will help attract much-needed foreign investment and financing for imports. The National Bank of Ukraine slapped a wide-ranging ban on cross-border currency transfers and purchases of foreign currency last year, immediately after Russia’s invasion of the country. The prohibition included the repayment of principal and interest on loans extended by foreign lenders, a decision that contributed to most ECAs suspending coverage of Ukraine.