TAWAU, 4 August – Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (CGC) organised a ‘Klinik Usahawan CGC Sabah’ as part of its overall efforts in reaching out to a wider cross-section of the SME community in Sabah.
The ‘Klinik Usahawan CGC Sabah’ is organised to create greater awareness of the financing products offered by CGC to enable viable SMEs to gain access to financing. It is also to inform SMEs of CGC’s role and participation in the Pan Borneo Highway project. In addition, it was also aimed at creating an avenue for SMEs to seek further information and other advisory services besides fostering cordial business relationship between both parties.
“As a Development Financial Institution dedicated to promoting SME development, we are focused on improving our SME outreach through our collaboration with the respective business associations / chambers in Sabah and be able to serve their members in the SME segment that may require our financial and other advisory support services,” said President/Chief Executive Officer of CGC, Mohd Zamree Mohd Ishak.
“In essence, what we hope to achieve through this Klinik Usahawan is to create further awareness on CGC’s products and services as well as our role in SME development,” added Zamree.
“Through this Klinik Usahawan, we are reaching out to more SMEs in Sabah including those that are vying for the Pan Borneo Highway project. With that, we are targeting to achieve about 20% increase in our overall financing to SMEs in Sabah by the end of this year,” said Zamree.
In 2016, CGC targets to provide about 8,650 worth of guarantees and financing valued at RM4.0 billion. Cumulatively, CGC has availed over 442,000 guarantees and financing to SMEs valued over RM61.5 billion since its inception in 1972.
‘Klinik Usahawan CGC Sabah’ which was held at the Promenade Hotel, Tawau from 8.30 am to 10.30 am on 4 August 2016 comprised of two sessions. The first session was a briefing by CGC on its products and services, and its application procedures. This was then followed by a briefing session by Bank Negara Malaysia.
About 300 participants comprised of entrepreneurs and representatives from Dewan Perniagaan Bumiputera Sabah, Dewan Perniagaan Industri Bugis Sabah and Persatuan Usahawan Belia Tawau attended this ‘Klinik Usahawan CGC Sabah’.
‘Klinik Usahawan CGC Sabah was officiated by YB Datuk Haji Tawfiq Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Abu Bakar Titingan, Sabah’s Minister of Youth and Sports. Also present were Datuk Haji Osman Haji Jamal, the Director of Sabah Economic Planning Unit, Mr. Joseph Pang, Secretary of Tawau Municipal Council, officials from Bank Negara Malaysia as well as representatives from the business associations / chambers.