Rastislav Podhorec , CEO of Eximbanka, in a commentary for HN (Hospodárske noviny) on the role of export credit agencies (ECAs) in the global development and internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The beginning of the year is both a natural time of taking stock and a time when we look ahead. The events of the past months clearly show that the role of export credit agencies (ECAs) in global development is now stronger and more visible. As Yuichiro Akita, President of the Berne Union of Credit and Investment Insurers, recently recalled, the Fourth UN International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville in July 2025 was a major milestone. In the outcome document, the UN recognized the key role of export credit agencies in mobilizing private capital for sustainable growth. For us at Eximbank, this is confirmation that our work is meaningful.
The numbers speak clearly. In 2024, members of the Berne Union supported long-term capital flows to developing countries of around $140 billion, in areas ranging from energy and transport to health. ECAs’ total exposure to developing markets today exceeds USD 500 billion. These results also remind us that export finance is a stable bridge between public interest and private capital, between vision and concrete projects. In this context, it is worth noting that the Berne Union is preparing its first hackathon on blended finance in March 2026. This is an initiative promoting innovation, collaboration and modernisation of instruments.
At the start of the new year, we are also thinking about small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of the economy. For many of them, entering foreign markets is a step into the unknown. The role of the Eximbank and the ECAs system as a whole is to be a reliable partner that helps to reduce risks and turn business plans into reality. The New Year is also a natural opportunity to remind ourselves of the broader context of export finance. Supporting reconstruction, infrastructure and economic stability in regions like Ukraine is not just a question of economics, but also of long-term stability and confidence. Export finance here goes beyond the purely economic dimension.
Responsible export financing is a solid foundation for the growth of the Slovak economy and also for sustainable development on a global scale. This is especially true for SMEs, of which around 70% in the EU have never traded outside their home market due to financial constraints and perceived risks. Our ambition is to continue to systematically support Slovak exporters, to strengthen cooperation within the international network of ECAs and at the same time to actively engage in initiatives that respond to the changing needs of the global economy.
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