Axis Bank on Thursday said that it has collaborated with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a partial guarantee programme with an initial outlay of $150 million (Rs 1,139.85 crore) which is aimed at supporting supply chain financing for impact sectors. Special focus will be towards environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and priority sectors.

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ADB will provide guarantees (variable) to the lending done by Axis Bank, the bank said in a release. The programme is scalable, with an initial foundational ramp-up of nearly $150 million, it said. Axis Bank said even as the programme is sector agnostic, it will have special focus on ESG and other priority sectors, re-affirming both institutions' commitments to positive developmental and environmental impact in the country.

"At Axis Bank, we are committed to providing accessible funding and solutions, supporting a more inclusive trade environment and helping our corporate/SME clients with all their business needs through innovative financial products and tailored lending solutions. We are keen to provide integrated holistic financial services, thereby becoming a part of their growth journeys. The enablement derived from the supply chain financing programme with ADB will further boost our propositions and fortify our stronghold as a truly universal bank," Amitabh Chaudhry, MD and CEO, Axis Bank, said.

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As the economy charts its recovery from the disruptions due to the pandemic, and adapts to the under-currents of the ongoing global conflicts, this programme stands to support the sectors rampaged by bottlenecks, shortages and delays, by providing major intervention in terms of supply chain finance.

It will also complement the surge in demand and expansion of operations in relevant sectors, thus enhancing their growth curves. Underpinned by the intent to provide accessible funding, the programme covers various supply chain financing product variants, including one-year working capital demand loans.

"With the terms of engagement being perpetual and open-ended, the programme has the flexibility to add innovative products as supply chain financing evolves over time," Axis Bank said.

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