Oct 15 (Bernama) — Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) today officially opened its Beijing branch, its third branch in the Greater China region, after Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The branch was officially opened by the Bank Negara Malaysia Deputy Governor, Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim; Malaysian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Datuk Iskandar Sarudin; and Gan Jin Zhong, Executive Deputy District Head of Beijing Chaoyang District, at a dinner reception held at the China World Hotel, Beijing.
Maybank President and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said the opening of the Beijing branch was a strategic and timely move, given the group’s aim to boost its Greater China operations on the back of robust Asean-China trade.
“It has always been our aim to expand our network in China and the granting of a licence for a branch in Beijing by the China Banking Regulatory Commission in May this year marked a milestone for Maybank,” Abdul Wahid said in a statement.
“We are now well positioned to leverage on our three branches to capture opportunities in financing and corporate banking business within the region,” he added.
Maybank Beijing branch has a paid-up capital of 200 million yuan (US$32 million) and will focus on wholesale banking services denominated in foreign currencies, primarily in US dollar.
These include foreign currency loans and advances, foreign currency guarantees, trade financing, documentary credit and collection, foreign currency deposits and project financing.
“The Maybank Beijing branch will complement the services offered out of Shanghai and Hong Kong. Together, we will be able to meet almost any financial services requirement of our clients – be it in Renminbi, Hong Kong Dollar or any other foreign currencies,” Abdul Wahid said.
According to him, two-way trade between Asean and China has been increasing rapidly, reaching US$363 billion in 2011.
Malaysia’s bilateral trade alone with China has been growing at a compound annual growth rate of over 22 per cent since 2000 to hit US$90 billion last year, he added.
Maybank Beijing branch, which opened for business in July 2012, is located on the 32nd Floor of the China World Tower, the tallest building in Beijing.
It is staffed by 20 employees, bringing the total number of employees in Maybank’s Greater China operations to 151.
Source: BERNAMA（中国‧北京16日讯）国家银行副总裁拿督莫哈末依布拉欣认为，隨区域经济和金融体系加速结合，相信大马银行业者提昇在中国的曝光率能促进马中金融经济关係，增加两国经商和投资机会。
他在出席马来亚银行（MAYBANK,1155,主板金融组）北京分行开张剪彩仪式致词时指出，眼下全球经济正面临困难时期，强化区域合作有助支持各成员国经济成长，减轻北美和欧洲成长放缓造成的衝击。
“今天，区域贸易佔亚洲总出口的50%，相比1995年时只有32%，相信目前在区域各国展开的数项转型规划，能进一步强化未来区域贸易量，多元化出口导向经济成长模式。＂他强调，亚洲拥有快速膨胀而且年轻的中產阶级人口，可支持消费和投资成长，预见亚洲中產阶级人口將於2030年成长至30亿，较目前5亿人次暴增6倍，同时，区域未来10年大型投资计划资金需求料高达8兆美元，能为区域经济注入额外成长动力。
“这种情况下，亚洲银行业所扮演的角色更加吃重，他们对自身任务有越深入的认知，就越有机会参与区域经济议程，而且，透过多项改革计划，区域金融体系如今非常稳健，足以满足区域需求。＂另外，依布拉欣也表示，国行將努力提高供贸易结算的人民幣兑马幣匯率的透明度，以迎合不断扩大的市场需求。
他说，大马人民幣结算跨境贸易规模在2011年按年增加4倍，反映將人民幣作为结算货幣的意愿越来越浓，也显示企业更加愿意以人民幣作为贸易和储值媒介，情况令人鼓舞。
马银行扩展区域
寮分行下月设立
除上述北京分行外，马来亚银行也计划於下月初，正式在寮国设立新分行，初步踏入该国银行业，继续扩大区域业务网络。
据该公司首席执行员拿督斯里阿都华希透露，在寮国设立分行主要为强化区域覆盖网络，为旗下客户提供更完善服务。
对於未来新分行目標，他表示没有为此设立明確目標，而是会继续跟隨公司、客户和监管局需求来评估是否有必要设立新分行。
“我们对区域各国都非常感兴趣，但只会在时机成熟时才会展开投资。＂另一方面，根据大马驻北京大使拿督依斯干达透露，有两家大马银行业者正探索收购中国银行业者股权的机会，但拒绝进一步给予其他细节，仅表示两家银行皆是传统（conventional）银行。
（星洲日报／財经）
