KUCHING: Sarawak offers significant potential for Affin Bank to expand its green and social financing packages, leveraging the government’s initiatives to promote a green economy and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Affin Bank president and group chief executive officer, Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah, highlighted Sarawak’s abundant green energy resources, which combined with the state’s green economy policies, are likely to encourage more entrepreneurs to enter this sector.
“As a group, we are eager to evolve into this environmental green economy, and I believe Malaysia as a whole still has a lot of potential for green energy development,” he told reporters at a gathering here yesterday.
He also noted that the Sarawak government has introduced a range of schemes to support SME development, including the recent allocation of a RM25mil fund to be disbursed through Affin Bank to assist women entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses.
“The government has also provided us with funds, and we are committed to driving SME development as they form the bedrock of our economy,” he said.
Regarding the bank’s expansion in Sarawak, Wan Razly announced plans to open eight new branches across the state, with five in Kuching, and one each in Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. Currently, the bank operates six branches in Sarawak, including one in Kuching offering a triple banking concept-commercial, Islamic and investment banking. — Bernama
