Banks & Islamic Finance · BIF Musrefy Award 2026
Project & Trade Finance Award
Honours effective financing solutions for projects, trade and economic growth.
How this award is scored
- Evaluation
- 100% automatic, from the data and evidence you submit
- Minimum score to win
- 70 / 100
- Measurement period
- The full financial year 2025 (or the latest financial year completed before nominations open); growth is measured against financial year 2024
Who can apply
- A licensed bank, development finance institution or trade finance institution, or one established by international agreement
- Operating for at least 3 years before the start of the measurement period
- Audited financial statements for the measurement period with an unqualified opinion from an independent external auditor
Indicators and weights
-
15%
Trade finance growth versus national trade
Growth in the value of trade finance transacted in the year (letters of credit, guarantees, supply chain finance) versus the previous year, minus the growth of the country’s merchandise trade (exports plus imports) in the same currency, in percentage points (neutralises inflation, exchange-rate swings and market size); regional institutions use total Arab trade
Points
- ≥ 15 percentage points 100
- 5 – < 15 percentage points 70
- 0 – < 5 percentage points 40
- -100 – < 0 percentage points 10
Evidence
Trade finance unit report reconciled to the financial statements for both years, and the country’s official external trade statistics
-
15%
Project and trade finance portfolio quality
Non-performing exposures in the project and trade finance portfolio as a percentage of that portfolio at year end
Points
- 6 – < 100 % 10
- 3 – < 6 % 40
- 1 – < 3 % 70
- 0 – < 1 % 100
Evidence
Portfolio risk report certified by risk management
-
15%
SME share of trade finance clients
SMEs (per the official definition) as a share of active trade finance clients during the year
Points
- 50 – < 100 % 100
- 35 – < 50 % 80
- 20 – < 35 % 50
- 0 – < 20 % 20
Evidence
List of active trade finance clients with their classification
-
15%
Letter of credit issuance time
Median hours from receiving a complete import LC application to issuing the LC
Points
- ≥ 48 hours 15
- 24 – < 48 hours 45
- 4 – < 24 hours 75
- 0 – < 4 hours 100
Evidence
Trade finance system report with receipt and issuance timestamps
-
10%
Digitised trade transactions
Share of trade finance transactions received and processed through a digital client portal or digital trade platform (eUCP or electronic trade platforms)
Points
- 75 – < 100 % 100
- 50 – < 75 % 80
- 25 – < 50 % 50
- 0 – < 25 % 20
Evidence
Channel report from the trade finance system
-
15%
Sustainable share of project and trade finance
Share of the value of new project and trade finance commitments in the year classified green or social under a recognised taxonomy (such as renewable energy, water, social infrastructure and low-carbon goods trade) out of all new commitments; trade is included so that trade-only financiers are not shut out
Points
- 30 – < 100 % 100
- 15 – < 30 % 80
- 5 – < 15 % 50
- 0 – < 5 % 20
Evidence
List of new commitments with sectors, amounts and classification under the adopted framework
-
15%
Support for intra-Arab trade and exports
Share of trade finance value linked to intra-Arab trade or non-oil exports out of total trade finance value
Points
- 40 – < 100 % 100
- 25 – < 40 % 80
- 10 – < 25 % 50
- 0 – < 10 % 20
Evidence
Trade finance report by origin, destination and type of goods
Each indicator gives 0 to 100 points; its share of the total is its weight. Ties are decided by the indicators listed first in the scorecard; payment or package never affects the score.
Cycle timeline
-
Done
Nominations open
-
Upcoming
Nominations close
-
Upcoming
Judging starts
-
Upcoming
Judging ends
-
Upcoming
Results announced
Times are in Asia/Riyadh (UTC+03:00).
Results
Results are announced only after final approval.
