OPEC Fund launches US$1.5 billion initiative to support economic stability, trade and resilience

Initiative to help partner countries manage rising economic pressures linked to energy, commodity and trade disruptions.

The Economic Stability, Trade and Resilience Initiative — known as E-STAR — will be deployed over the 2026–2028 period, providing rapid, demand-driven support to help countries maintain essential services, secure critical imports, protect development progress and strengthen resilience against future shocks.

OPEC Fund President Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said the initiative was designed to respond quickly and where it matters most.

"E-STAR is designed to respond quickly and where it matters most: helping countries keep essential services running, secure critical supplies and stay on track with their development priorities. At a time of uncertainty, this is about delivering practical support and reinforcing partnership."

Recent developments in the Middle East are adding to pressures in energy, commodity and trade markets, contributing to inflation, higher import costs and tighter financing conditions. For many developing economies, these pressures are already straining budgets, trade balances and growth prospects. In the most vulnerable countries, they risk undermining economic stability and disrupting access to essential goods.

E-STAR will be deployed on a demand-driven basis through the OPEC Fund's existing public, private sector and trade finance instruments, enabling a rapid and flexible response to evolving country needs. The initiative focuses on three priority areas.

Counter-cyclical support will provide fast-disbursing financing to help governments manage rising import costs and tighter financing conditions, while keeping essential services running. Trade finance will support the supply of key goods — including energy, food and agricultural inputs — by helping countries and businesses access working capital and keep critical trade flows moving. Resilience building will direct targeted investments into energy, transport and logistics infrastructure to strengthen supply chains, support continuity of essential imports and reduce exposure to future disruptions.

The initiative builds on the OPEC Fund's track record in responding to global disruptions, including its Food Security Action Plan — launched in response to global food security pressures following the war in Ukraine — which delivered US$1 billion in support between 2022 and 2024.