Interactive Dialogue With Banks for SMEs and Business Organizations in Ipoh

Ipoh, Tuesday, 18 May 2010 – As part of the continuing series of nationwide dialogues under the banner “Sesi Berinteraksi Bersama Organisasi Perniagaan” which has been very well received thus far, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) jointly organized an interactive forum for representatives from commercial banks, the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and other relevant trade and business organizations in Ipoh, Perak. The response from the various organizations in and around Ipoh (and which extended to Teluk Intan and Sitiawan) such as Dewan Perniagaan dan Perindustrian China Hilir Perak, Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia Negeri Perak, Perak Indian Chamber of Commerce and Malaysian Timber Council was most encouraging.

Ensuring that there was ample time for engagement, the forum was held over two, half-day sessions. Presentations made by BNM, Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad and SME Corporation Malaysia at the start of the forum were aimed at providing the trade and business organizations with a bird’s eye view of the complete spectrum of financing options available for SMEs and business organizations including micro-financing. MTC also spoke on the financing opportunities between its members and commercial banks.

“BNM and ABM relish the opportunity of reinforcing ties with bankers outside of Kuala Lumpur presented by such forums. We are very pleased that all fourteen ABM members with presence in Perak were represented at the forum which was attended all in all by businessmen and bankers totalling approximately 100 in number,” said ABM’s Executive Director, Chuah Mei Lin.

Chuah explained that the regional dialogues, designed to enable BNM and ABM to reach out to SMEs and trade and business organizations in smaller towns and to meet them face to face to foster better public understanding and working relationships, have indeed proven to be effective. Not only have the dialogues provided BNM and the commercial banks with a platform to explain guidelines and policy decisions, the matters raised by the SMEs and other organizations at the dialogues have furnished the commercial banks with useful insights as to how they can enhance their services going forward.

She emphasized that ABM hopes to eventually reach out to SMEs in all corners of Malaysia in a phased approach as each region has its own suite of specialized commercial activities, which may give rise to a different and distinctive set of issues. “ABM has plans to roll out such dialogues and financing fairs in East Malaysia this year. The commercial banks are committed to supporting SME development and financing in whatever way we can,” said Chuah.

To date, successful dialogues with the various business chambers and associations have been held in Pulau Pinang (July 2009), Kuala Terengganu (December 2009) and now Ipoh. In addition, ABM also organised its first financing fair and dialogue outside of Kuala Lumpur in August 2009 in Batu Pahat, Johor.

SMEs and business organizations may obtain more information from ABM’s website, www.abm.org.my or contact ABM’s toll-free hotline ABMConnect at 1-300-88-9980 from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Mondays to Fridays should they have any enquiries on commercial banking related issues.

Back to top