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KUALA LUMPUR: SME Bank recorded a profit before tax and zakat of RM213.9 million and approved financing amounting RM2.1 billion to 529 small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs for the year ended 2019.

Chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff said SME Bank also recorded gross financing portfolio of RM6.4 billion last year.

"This success is a testament to SME Bank's commitment in supporting the government's efforts to create a strong and competitive SME ecosystem. 

"The stability of SME Bank's operations will also assist the government in achieving the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Recovery Plan Post Covid-19 which is the government's efforts in ensuring the sustainability of the SME sector after being hit by this crisis. 

"Support from agencies such as SME Bank will accelerate the process of recovery and rebuilding of the nation's economy," he said in a statement today.

SME Bank group president and chief executive officer Aria Putera Ismail said in response to the various stimulus packages announced by the government, the bank, through Prihatin, had approved 940 applications amounting RM503.04 million under the Special Relief Facility (SRF).

He said in addition to the SRF, SME Bank had processed 15 Agrofood Facility (AF) applications worth RM7.83 million as at July 28.

"In addition to the above facilities, the Automation and Digitalisation Facilities (ADF) and All Economic Sectors (AES) Facility are among the funds provided by Bank Negara Malaysia to assist SME entrepreneurs affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

"Under Penjana, SME Bank has been entrusted to manage two important funds in an effort to support the sustainability of SMEs businesses especially in the construction, services and manufacturing sectors post Covid-19 crisis. 

"We have allocated RM1.6 billion for the SME Go Scheme and RM500 million for the SME Technology Transformation Fund (STTF) respectively," he said.

Meanwhile, in the 2019 Budget, SME Bank allocated a fund amounting RM500 million for the Special Tourism Fund (SFT3) financing. 

The bank also approved SFT3 financing worth more than RM284.08 million for the tourism sector entrepreneurs as at May 30. 

"SFT3 financing will continue to be offered until the fund is fully approved," it said.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2020/07/612591/sme-bank-approves-rm21b-financing-529-smes-2019