Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has obtained a $35 million loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development to enhance financial access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh, with a focus on agribusiness, trade finance, and green projects. 

The loan agreement was signed recently in Dhaka, according to a press release.

EBL Managing Director Ali Reza Iftekhar said, "This partnership with the OPEC Fund will help us stimulate financial support to SMEs, ensure food security, and contribute to a climate-responsive, sustainable future for Bangladesh."

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said, "By supporting SMEs, especially women-led businesses, we aim to empower communities and foster a more inclusive, sustainable future." 

Established in 1976, the OPEC Fund is a development institution focused on financing essential projects in food, energy, infrastructure, and healthcare across low- and middle-income countries. 

With over $27 billion committed to global development initiatives, it operates to drive social progress and economic resilience.