News : 2005

Thursday, July 28, 2005

TRADE BANK SECURES $150 MILLION CREDIT FACILITY

BAGHDAD (28 July 2005) - TBI Press Dept.: The Trade Bank of Iraq announced today that it has received a new credit line of US$150 million from OPIC and Citibank of the United States. The entire amount will be financed by OPIC while the first $70 million is arranged by Citibank on a six-month revolving basis. This is the first such facility that TBI has secured from a commercial bank and will allow TBI to issue letters of credit that are not fully cash collateralized. This facility will apply to all letters of credit which are not fully supported by export credit agency cover. TBI will use the facility for letters of credit issued on behalf of public sector and private sector clients.

Hussein Al-Uzri, President of the Trade Bank of Iraq, said: "We are extremely pleased to announce this facility which will allow TBI to use its funds more efficiently to further promote trade and speed up the reconstruction of Iraq. We hope to have other such agreements in place soon."

TBI is a state-owned bank that was founded in 2003 to facilitate Iraq's international trade. It is capitalized at $100 million and has issued letters of credit worth almost $7 billion since its establishment.

For further information, please contact: Zaid Mahdi - zaid.mahdi@tbiraq.com

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