The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Japan’s SMBC announced a $500 million supply-chain finance facility on October 2 to expand working-capital access for small businesses in emerging markets. IFC will provide up to $250 million directly, with SMBC contributing the other half on equal terms.

The model uses large buyers’ financial strength to let smaller suppliers receive early payment on approved invoices. The first anchor buyer is a large food manufacturer in Latin America. IFC said its global supply-chain finance program, launched in 2023, has supported more than $3.8 billion in supplier-finance transactions.