HLB To Boost SME Industry Through Sibu Tradex 2011

8 July 2011, Sibu - Hong Leong Bank seeks to play an even bigger role in boosting the SME industry and as a community-embedded bank by being the Main Sponsor of the Sibu Tradex 2011, which is held from 8 to 16 July 2011. The banking group sees this as an opportunity to further entrench its role as a valuable partner to the Sibu SME community as well as its leadership in SME financing.

"With more than 95% of businesses being small- and medium-sized enterprises and coupled with the need to compete on an increasingly global scale, there is great growth potential for the industry. As a bank, we are in a prime position to empower that growth, which has become even more so, following our recent merger exercise. Our participation in the Sibu Tradex reinforces our commitment and role as a community-embedded bank to facilitate the growth of the SMEs," explained Peter Chow, Chief Operating Officer, Group Business Banking, Hong Leong Bank.

Hong Leong Bank has long been seen as a vital partner to its SME client base. The new enlarged Hong Leong Bank possesses an expanded network of 329 branches and 39 dedicated Business Banking Centers as well as the necessary resources to assist its SME clients.

Chow added that the bank's participation in the Sibu Tradex 2011 event was certainly a good platform for SMEs to engage the bank in a meaningful manner. "As a community-centric bank, we are very alert to the fact that both the bank and our SME clients need such opportunities to interact with each other. For the bank, it is a great opportunity to get a closer understanding of our clients need so that we can better empower them with the right products and services for their future success." To that end, Hong Leong Bank will also have its specialists present at the convention to provide financial assistance and answer queries.

Hong Leong Bank offers a wide range of products which include trade finance, business loans, cash management and transactional services that can be customised to provide greater flexibility and convenience to its SME clients.

-END-Press Release - 08/07/2011