Prague: Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and SACE S.p.A., Italy's export credit agency, have signed an export credit reinsurance agreement aimed at supporting joint export transactions involving Qatari and Italian companies in third-country markets. The agreement was finalized on June 11 during the TXF Global 2026: Export, Agency and Project Finance event in Prague, creating a framework to assist exporters from both nations in pursuing larger international projects with enhanced risk-mitigation support.
According to Qatar News Agency, the collaboration involves QDB and SACE supporting transactions where Qatari and Italian companies jointly provide goods or services to buyers outside their domestic markets. This framework is designed to facilitate cross-border export opportunities while offering a structured mechanism for managing commercial risk. Khalid Abdullah Al Mana, Vice President of Enterprise Development at Qatar Development Bank and Executive Director of Qatar Exports, emphasized that the agreement would expand QDB's ability to support Qatar-based exporters seeking growth opportunities abroad.
Al Mana stated that the framework would enable Qatari exporters to pursue larger international opportunities alongside Italian partners, with robust institutional backing and clearer risk-management mechanisms. This initiative aligns with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, supporting the country's economic diversification efforts. Mario Melillo, Chief Network Officer at SACE, described the agreement as a practical platform for strengthening cooperation between Italian and Qatari companies in international markets.
According to SACE, the framework provides a structured basis for supporting export transactions involving both Italian and Qatari content while encouraging deeper economic cooperation between Italy and Qatar. The agreement introduces a coordinated approach under which one institution can lead export credit coverage, while the other supports the portion linked to its national exporters. Each transaction will be assessed and approved individually.
A notable feature of the arrangement is its Sharia-compliant structure. QDB's participation will adhere to Islamic finance principles, marking SACE's first involvement in a fully Sharia-compliant reinsurance arrangement. The signing is part of QDB's broader efforts to enhance Qatar's export-support ecosystem through partnerships with international export credit agencies and financial institutions.
Through Qatar Exports, QDB offers companies export development services, market intelligence, and financing solutions, along with insurance and risk-mitigation support, to facilitate international expansion and promote the growth of Qatar's non-hydrocarbon export sector.