The World Bank has inaugurated a new global initiative aimed at bringing together governments, development finance institutions and banks to support trade in developing markets, reported the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday.

The initiative with a targeted initial commitment of US$5 billion will be sourced from the public sector and it will support up to US$50 billion of trade.

The World Bank in a statement said the Global Trade Liquidity Program would begin in May.

According to the organization, the bailout is to address the shortage of trade finance resulting from the current global financial crisis, adding that the seed funds being sourced from international finance and development institutions, governments and banks would be managed by global and regional banks.

The World Bank listed the beneficiaries to include importers and exporters in developing countries. Robert B. Zoellick, the World Bank President, lauded what he called the tremendous cooperation between public and private sector institutions that facilitated the Global Trade Liquidity Program.

"I welcome G20 support for this timely and targeted solution that will provide trade finance to support businesses across developing markets,' he said.

According to reports of the News Agency Nigeria, the program has so far received US$1 billion commitment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Other donors include the British government, through its development finance institution CDC, the Canadian and the Dutch governments.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2009)