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Financial Capital

Financing SMEs, Wholesale Banking (APEX Banking), and Impact

SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) constitute a significant share of enterprises in developing countries, including Türkiye, and play a critical role in economic growth and employment opportunities. Recognizing their importance, Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye supports the financing needs of SMEs with high priority. The Bank’s main objective is to contribute to Türkiye’s overall development and facilitate SMEs’ access to financial resources to help them grow, increase their competitiveness, and promote inclusive economic growth.

The Bank supports SMEs through indirect means, including wholesale banking (APEX Banking) loans and loan agreements with international organizations focused on SME support. In addition, the Bank aims to increase its support to SMEs through various funds under the Türkiye Development Fund, such as the Technology and Innovation Fund, the Regional Development Fund, the TKYB Capital Fund, the Development Participation Venture Capital Fund, and the Innovative and Advanced Technologies Participation Venture Capital Fund. The main objective is to strengthen the support system for SMEs and ensure their success in a dynamic economic environment.

To support the creation of employment opportunities, the Bank provides financing for thematic investments of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through direct loans and other financial institutions such as commercial banks and leasing companies through the APEX Banking mechanism.

As part of the wholesale banking activities launched in 2008, nearly 1 billion USD worth of financing was provided to SMEs through 5 commercial banks and 8 leasing companies in 11 APEX programs carried out until the end of 2019. To support the financing of SMEs, Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye completed the design of 3 APEX loan programs in 2020, signed contracts with the relevant resource institutions, prepared project implementation guidelines, and brought them to the disbursement stage

The Bank’s efforts to extend loans to SMEs through the APEX method continued unabated in 2022. TKYB signed two important projects in cooperation with the World Bank, which will provide a total of 280 million EUR in 2023, and a project for the APEX loan component of 30 million USD in cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

World Bank Formal Employment Creation Project Wholesale Banking Component (Formal Employment Creation Project)

The World Bank approved the financial, environmental, and social review and assessment reports prepared within the scope of the selection of intermediary financial institutions for the EUR 190 million APEX loan component of the Registered Employment Creation Project, which is envisaged to be disbursed through the wholesale banking method, and signed Intermediary Financial Institution (IFI) Agreements with six financial leasing companies.

A total of 70 million EUR was disbursed to institutions with signed intermediary loan agreements. Work on evaluating and reporting the sub-projects of financial leasing companies for the loans disbursed continues.

In 2023, a disbursement of EUR 120 million is foreseen. The budget of 650,000 EUR allocated for capacity-building training and consultancy services for Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye, intermediary institutions, and beneficiary companies within the scope of the loan is expected to be used mainly in 2023.

Within the scope of the APEX component of the project, the consultancy service procurement process for the company that will provide consultancy for the Environmental and Social assessment phase is ongoing. In the first quarter of 2023, it is planned to start working with the consultant company.

World Bank Emergency Firm Support Project

To meet the working capital and investment needs of SMEs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire USD 250 million Emergency Firm Support Project provided by the World Bank is being disbursed through wholesale banking. Contracts were signed with three financial leasing companies and two banks approved by the World Bank, and a total of USD 90 million was disbursed to intermediary institutions.

In 2023, efforts to assess and report on intermediary institutions’ sub-loans will continue, and a total of USD 160 million is planned to be disbursed.
The procurement of consultancy services to support the Environmental and Social Assessment process within the scope of the Project is ongoing. Consultancy service terms of reference and a list of potential firms have been prepared. The procurement process is targeted to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank COVID-19 Project Wholesale Banking Component

An Intermediary Financial Institution (IFI) Agreement was signed with a commercial bank for the 30 million USD APEX loan component of the 300 million USD COVID-19 Project with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the full amount was transferred. The review, approval, and reporting processes of the sub-loans extended by the intermediary bank are planned to be completed in the first half of 2023.

The procurement of consultancy services to support the environmental and social assessment process within the scope of the project is ongoing in conjunction with the World Bank Emergency Company Support Project. Consultancy service terms of reference and a list of potential firms have been prepared. The procurement process is targeted to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.