US$40-million partnership should help boost Jamaica’s economic recovery

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is partnering with Sagicor Bank Jamaica to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This will be achieved through the Working Capital Solutions programme, which is part of the IFC’s global response to support the recovery of the private sector from the pandemic.

IFC is providing Sagicor Bank funding of up to US$40 million to expand financing for SMEs in Jamaica and help enhance their resilience, continue operations, and protect jobs.

The investment complements a previous advisory project to help Sagicor Bank grow its SME business and support Jamaica in strengthening its credit framework through a regional Secured Transactions Collateral Registry. 

The IFC’s strategy in Jamaica is focused on supporting economic growth, inclusion and sustainability which includes improving the investment climate, supporting public-private partnerships to help address critical infrastructure needs and expanding access to finance to SMEs and women by working with financial institutions.

Partnership will better enable the recovery and growth SMEs in Jamaica

Commenting on the partnership, Sagicor Bank CEO Chorvelle Johnson Cunningham remarked: “At Sagicor Bank we recognise that the SME sector plays an important role in our economy and generates thousands of jobs for Jamaicans. This partnership with IFC will better enable us to support the recovery and growth of such businesses after what has been a challenging year for most.” 

For her part, Judith Green, IFC manager for the Caribbean, responded: “IFC is very happy to be working with Sagicor Bank to increase lending to small and medium-size companies. The SME sector is extremely important to the Jamaican economy and our partnership with Sagicor Bank will not only provide much needed support to the sector but also to the country’s recovery.”

Before the pandemic, Jamaica’s financing gap was estimated at J$2.7 billion, with only 27 per cent of SMEs with a loan or line of credit. A World Bank Financial Sector Assessment also concluded that, even prior to the crisis, many Jamaican SMEs were using personal funds for investments, which resulted in a delay in business development and growth.

The pandemic has also disrupted important segments of the economy such as tourism and manufacturing.

 The IFC, as a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets.

The IFC works in more than 100 countries, using its capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries.

In the fiscal year 2020, the IFC invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.