Malaysia

The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) has identified new services areas to be promoted through its agencies.

Lack of initiative to gather helpful information has been identified as one of the main drawbacks of Malaysia's small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

More productive labour in 2003 helped push growth of value-added of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to surpass that of the overall manufacturing sector.

A better global economic environment and potentially higher investments from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could lead to an increase in investments in Malaysia this year.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) wanting to finance their information and communications technology (ICT) implementation are currently faced with a lack of options in terms of loan packages from financial institutions.

Credit evaluation is becoming an integral part of business in Malaysia as companies begin backing their business decisions with credit ratings to minimise chances of default.

Malaysia's banking system is expected to continue to remain strong and resilient on the back of a stronger capital base, further improvement in asset quality and robust loan activity to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), says Public Bank

Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd expects an 8% rise in loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) this year from the RM 1.4bn approved last year.

RHB Bank Bhd, Malaysia’s third-largest bank, is planning to increase its small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) loan portfolio to 40 per cent of total loans in five years.

The Small Debt Resolution Scheme set up by Bank Negara Malaysia has received 102 applications from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), since its establishment in November last year to May 2004.