Bank Asia Delegation Visits the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) to Explore Collaboration Opportunities in SME Finance and Risk Mitigation
Amsterdam, 6 October 2025 - A delegation from Bank Asia Plc, Bangladesh, and Business Connection BV, the Netherlands, visited the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) headquarters in Amsterdam. The visit aimed to explore avenues for collaboration between CFC and Bank Asia in promoting access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and strengthening mechanisms for foreign exchange risk mitigation in cross-border trade and development finance.
The delegation was led by Mr. Sohel R. K. Hussain, Managing Director of Bank Asia Plc, accompanied by Mr. Zia Arfin, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of the International Department, and joined by representatives from Business Connection BV — Dr. M. Nahid Hasan, Managing Director, and Mr. Masud Hossain, Head of Operations. Mr. R. J. Sohel, Chief Executive Officer of Business Connection BV, participated virtually.
The CFC delegation was led by Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, and included Mr. Nicolaus Cromme, Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Hector Besong, Risk Manager, and Ms. Zahra Kahla, Research and Data Assistant.
The purpose of the visit was to explore potential areas of collaboration between the CFC and Bank Asia, with support from Business Connection BV, to promote inclusive finance, agricultural development, and sustainability in Bangladesh and other emerging markets.
During the meeting, Mr. Nicolaus Cromme, provided an overview of the CFC’s mandate, investment portfolio, and financing instruments supporting SMEs and agricultural enterprises across developing countries. He emphasized CFC’s commitment to partnerships that combine innovation, impact, and practical solutions for small producers and traders.
Mr. Sohel R. K. Hussain, who has served as Managing Director of Bank Asia, shared insights from his extensive career spanning every key area of commercial and development banking. He described his lifelong passion for mission-driven finance, particularly in empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through innovative financial inclusion strategies.
“Bank Asia’s journey has always been about serving communities and enabling growth from the grassroots up,” said Mr. Hussain.
Dr. M. Nahid Hasan, Managing Director of Business Connection BV, shared his company’s broad experience in Africa and South Asia, sourcing cotton and other agricultural commodities while facilitating trade and investment links between continents. His firm also acts as an intermediary, arranging syndicated loans and structuring financing for global operations.
Dr. Hasan highlighted his interest in exploring Africa-based guarantee schemes and other blended-finance mechanisms that could complement both CFC’s investment programs and Bank Asia’s international growth strategy.
The meeting also included discussions on foreign exchange risk mitigation, a key challenge for international trade and finance. Participants explored the potential for developing new financial tools and partnership structures that would improve access to stable, affordable financing for SMEs and agribusinesses operating across multiple currencies and regions.
Ambassador Belal commended Bank Asia’s achievements in securing international financing, including from the IFC), and praised Business Connection BV’s efforts in bridging private-sector collaboration in developing countries especially in Africa.
“Today’s meeting reflects our shared vision of inclusive and responsible finance — combining the strength of financial innovation, technical expertise, and international cooperation.” said Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC.
As a next step, all parties agreed to strengthen collaboration between their technical teams to identify specific project opportunities. This will include joint exploration of SME financing, blended finance structures, and foreign exchange risk mitigation instruments, as well as possible guaranteed mechanisms for Africa-based trade and investment.
The teams will remain in contact to design practical frameworks that align with each institution’s mandate — paving the way for future co-investment and technical cooperation.
About the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC):
The CFC is an intergovernmental financial institution based in Amsterdam, working in over 100 countries to support inclusive economic development through impact investing in commodity value chains.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]