Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will make available US$200 million through its Supply Chain Finance Program for companies manufacturing and distributing medicines and other items needed to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Companies manufacturing and distributing products, including medicines and personal protective equipment, are increasingly strained as production and distribution ramp up to address COVID-19. The support from ADB, working in partnership with commercial banks, will provide such companies in Asia and the Pacific with additional working capital to meet expansion and other requirements.

“The support will target companies in the supply chain that are critical to fighting the virus,” said ADB’s Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance Steven Beck. “We’re looking to support companies that want to ramp up production and therefore need to engage suppliers.”

Given that a single pool of supply chain finance is typically used for a subsequent delivery over a period of 120–180 days, the US$200 million facility could support more than US$400 million of financing over the next 12 months. Fifty-fifty risk sharing from partner commercial banks could boost support under the facility to US$800 million over the same period.

The funds will be made available through ADB’s Supply Chain Finance Program and provided to selected companies within weeks. ADB is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on trade finance and is in regular contact with client banks to assess whether additional support is required.

ADB’s response to COVID-19 to date includes US$2 million announced on 7 February to enhance detection, prevention, and response in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Greater Mekong Subregion; another US$2 million announced on 26 February to support response in all its developing members; and a CNY130 million (US$18.6 million) private sector loan, signed on 25 February, to Wuhan, PRC-based pharmaceutical distributor Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. to support the continued supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.