ICBC marks 30 years supporting China-UK partnership

From a representative office established in 1995 to a comprehensive financial platform supporting trade, investment, and major infrastructure projects, the journey of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in the United Kingdom has evolved in step with China's reform and opening-up, and the expanding global reach of the country's financial sector.

Today, ICBC operates in the UK through three institutions — the ICBC London branch, ICBC (London) plc, and ICBC Standard Bank plc — with total assets exceeding $58 billion, more than 1,000 employees, and clients and counterparties in around 90 countries and regions.

Trading center, funding hub, offshore RMB market maker

ICBC's UK institutions have helped position the group as a leading arranger of syndicated loans, a major player in cross-border financing, and a 24-hour financial markets trading hub. Through continuous pricing and execution services in foreign exchange, interest rates, and commodities, the institutions support Panda Bond issuance, green finance initiatives, and financing for infrastructure, energy, and cross-border projects, contributing to efficient capital allocation across regions.

Supporting Belt & Road Initiative, bilateral real economies

Leveraging London's role as a strategic gateway to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, ICBC's UK institutions have built an extensive network to support the Belt and Road Initiative and bilateral real economies, with business relationships with more than 500 banks and non-bank financial institutions, providing tailored financing solutions for infrastructure and development projects.

Over the past five years, ICBC's UK institutions have led 269 syndicated loan transactions with total commitments of $24.7 billion, making ICBC consistently rank among the lead underwriters of syndicated loans in EMEA. Some of these transactions have served 24 clients across 15 countries involved in the BRI.