KUCHING, Feb 24: Agrobank has been urged to remain committed and further expand access to financial assistance for local entrepreneurs as well as rural communities through the setting up of mobile banks.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan raised this when receiving a courtesy call from an Agrobank entourage led by its president and chief executive officer Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin at his office here today.
“Agrobank needs to increase access to financial assistance and services in order to ensure smooth and effective implementation of initiatives provided by the Sarawak government for local entrepreneurs,” Awang Tengah said in a statement today.
The purpose of the courtesy call was to discuss and strengthen the strategic cooperation between the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred) and Agrobank for the implementation of development programmes for local entrepreneurs, especially in terms of financial assistance.
Both parties also discussed the proposed mobile bank initiative to help rural communities in Sarawak.
Awang Tengah emphasised that mobile banks will make it easier for people to withdraw money for their daily expenses, which in turn will contribute to economic growth in the area.
Apart from that, Agrobank also offers various financial services to industries including agriculture, retail, upstream activities such as supply of agricultural production input, downstream activities such as processing, marketing and sales of agricultural products, as well as boat upgrades for fishermen who want to venture into deep sea activities.
Among those present were Mintred advisor Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, permanent secretary to Mintred Dzulkornain Masron, permanent secretary to Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datu Sr Zaidi Mahdi, advisor for international trade and investment Datu Liaw Soon Eng and Mintred Entrepreneurs Development Division head Sayed Ismail Wan Hashim. — DayakDaily
