The World Bank
Agriculture Modernization Project (P158372)
Page 68 of 70
ANNEX 6: Compliance of Line of Credit with OP 10.0 Financial Intermediary Financing
COUNTRY: Uzbekistan
Agriculture Modernization Project
1.
Component 2: Supporting Investments in High-Value Horticulture Value Chains will facilitate farmers’
participation in investment opportunities created by economic liberalization and agricultural diversification and enable
productive partnerships/clusters between farm groups and agribusinesses. This objective will be achieved through a mix
of technical support provided under sub-component 1.4 and two credit windows that would offer long-term financing
tailored to the needs of farmers and agribusinesses, which is still lacking in the domestic banking sector, specifically, a
credit window for farm cooperatives and a credit window for productive partnerships. Detailed terms and conditions of
the credit line will be reflected in Credit Line Guidelines.
2.
Credit Line Beneficiaries. The primary beneficiaries are farmers, both
dehkan and larger farms, agri-businesses,
exporters, and service providers operating in horticulture value chains. Secondary beneficiaries will be PFIs through
improved skills and acquisition of a more diverse menu of suitable financial products.
3.
The interest rate to PFIs is to be finalized during the project negotiations with MOF and will need to be acceptable
to WB. It is proposed to be:
i.
The interest rate for Subsidiary Loans denominated in US Dollars shall be
equivalent to the base rate,
which will be the prevailing interest rate at which the Borrower shall have received loan proceeds from
WB plus a spread set by the Borrower and agreed to by WB.
ii.
The interest rate for Subsidiary Loans denominated in UZ Soms shall be equivalent to the base rate, which
will be the prevailing interest rate at which the Borrower shall have received loan proceeds from WB plus
a spread set by the Borrower from time to time and agreed to by WB.
4.
PFIs will set their own interest rates and repayment terms to final sub-loans beneficiaries based on their banking
considerations. The on-lending interest rate from PFIs to end borrowers will be sufficient to cover: (i) cost of funds; (ii)
administrative expenses; (iii) loan loss risk; and (iv) a small profit margin to compensate PFI for taking the credit risk. This
will be stated in the credit operations manual. PFIs will carry out full appraisal of sub-loans/eases and sub-borrowers
based on the agreed criteria and will bear full risk of subsidiary loan repayment.
5.
Other key terms and conditions:
i.
Maturity of the Subsidiary Loan. The
PFIs will receive funds and repay to MOF in equal semi-annual
installments in accordance with the provisions in the Credit Line Guidelines.
ii.
Choice of currency. The funds will be available both in UZ Soms and US Dollars, based on the demand of
the sub-borrowers.
iii.
The maximum sub-loan size under the farmer cooperative window will be up to US$1 million, and up to
US$8 million for
the value chain development, to ensure financing for larger loans to invest in cold
storages and agro-processing equipment and other productive assets, as well as to support entire value
chain development. Working capital loans will be up to US$250,000 for up to 18 months, and the value
chain financing products will have the maximum loan size of up to US$2 million and maturity will depend
on the nature of the transaction this loan will finance.
iv.
The maximum maturity of the sub-loans will not exceed 10 years or the amortization period of the asset,
whichever is shorter. The actual size and maturity of the loans will depend on the type of investment
financed,
profitability of the activity, cash-flows generated, collateral, and other banking considerations.