Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan met with EXIM Bank Chief Executive Officer Shahbaz H. Syed in Islamabad on October 9, 2026, to push for broader access to export credit insurance and financing. The talks focused specifically on shielding small enterprises and first-time Pakistani exporters against overseas payment and transfer risks.
Small businesses and first-time exporters attempting their first overseas sales face payment risks, from sudden buyer default to blocked fund transfers abroad. To dismantle those hurdles, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met with Export-Import Bank Chief Executive Officer Shahbaz H. Syed at his Islamabad office on a Friday in October 2026.
The policy push aims to transform emerging domestic producers into established international competitors by arming them with practical guidance, reliable risk coverage, and capital access. The commerce ministry wants smaller suppliers—including local firms that manufacture components for larger exporters—to tap into structured financial lifelines. Jam Kamal stressed that export support should reach emerging businesses and smaller producers looking to go global, as access to capital, practical guidance and suitable risk protection could help them grow into established exporters.
Export Credit Insurance Coverage Terms and Commercial Bank Partnerships
During the briefing, EXIM Bank’s leadership detailed how its commercial insurance products function in practice. The coverage shields Pakistani sellers against specific commercial and political perils tied to international transactions, such as foreign buyers failing to settle invoices or regulatory events preventing the transfer of funds out of destination markets.
The chief executive explained that coverage can reach up to 90 percent of the insured risk, though the exact ceiling depends on terms, evaluations, and a required retention of exposure where exporters maintain a share of the risk. Underwriters evaluate applicants based on the overseas buyer’s creditworthiness and the destination market’s risk profile, opening the door for newcomers.
Commercial banks are envisioned as potential partners and distribution channels for export credit insurance. Insured export receivables can serve as leverage to help firms secure working capital loans from commercial lenders, subject to standard regulatory frameworks and bank lending requirements.
Jam Kamal Proposes Using Trade Officers to Connect Firms Overseas
To bridge the gap between financial institutions and business owners, Jam Kamal proposed positioning trade officers stationed abroad as direct connectors. These officials are tasked with identifying overseas opportunities, facilitating business contacts, and helping Pakistani firms understand destination markets before shipping goods. He also encouraged the bank to explore cooperation with international export credit agencies and financial institutions to broaden financing opportunities.
The strategy also targets upcoming domestic trade exhibitions.