The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is increasing its support for Ukrainian exporters and importers by increasing financing available under its Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) through Raiffeisen Bank Aval, by $80 million to $150 million.

The EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme promotes foreign trade to, from and within EBRD operating countries, including Ukraine, the EBRD said in a statement.

Through the Programme, the Bank provides guarantees to international confirming banks, taking political and commercial payment risk of international trade transactions undertaken by banks in the countries of operations.

The Bank's Trade Facilitation Programme currently works with eight local banks in Ukraine to facilitate their private corporate clients continuing international trade. The TFP has supported trade transactions worth EUR 1.57 billion in Ukraine to date, of which over EUR 240 million has been processed in 2014.

The EBRD is the largest financial investor in Ukraine. As of December 2014, the Bank had committed almost EUR10 billion ($12.4 billion) through 342 projects in the country.