BTA Bank (Kazakhstan) informed that the US Ministry of Agriculture increased the direct credit line of the bank from $55.0 m. to $120.0 m.

/KASE, October 16, 08/ - BTA Bank (Almaty), securities of which are traded in Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) official list, provided to KASE the press release of the following content: Quotation start The Ministry of Agriculture of USA increased the direct credit line of BTA Bank from USD55 m. to USD120 m. This credit line was aimed at funding of agricultural products delivery from Данная USA within the GSM-102 program. BTA Bank is actively using this funding for clients importing goods from USA, stipulated by the mentioned program, with further provision of the loan to an importer for 3 years. The existence of such guarantees allows significant decreasing of the loan cost for importers at the expense of preferential refunding by American banks of BTA Bank obligations. At present it is very important, when the funding cost increased not only for Kazakhstan banks, but also for Western financial institutions. Participation in this program fully complies with the BTA strategy, in which support of small and media size business subjects takes specific place. More than double increase of BTA credit limit during instability on the world financial market proves confidence in the bank as the borrower not only in investors, but also in western government institutions. GSM-102 - the program of Commodity-Credit Corporation under the Department of Agriculture of USA is aimed at support of exporters of food and agricultural products from USA to Kazakhstan and other Eurasian countries and stipulates provision of loans to the importer against the Commodity-Credit Corporation guarantee. For Media contacts: Adil Dossymov, BTA Bank Press Secretary 8 (727) 266 47 97, e-mail: dosymov@bta.kz Quotation end [2008-10-16]