- Region: Asia
- Manufacturing and Services
- Untied Loans
May 29, 2009
- JBIC*1 signed an Untied Loan agreement for an aggregate amount of up to US$200 million with the Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank), a Malaysian commercial bank. This is the second loan that JBIC has provided to a commercial bank in Malaysia this year, following the signing of a loan agreement with the RHB Bank Berhad the previous day.
- The loan aims to support corporate financing activities amid the pervasive impact of the global financial crisis. Specifically, the loan will provide long-term financing to Japanese companies in Malaysia, where 1,432 Japanese firms*2 are operating businesses mainly in the manufacturing sector, as well as local companies within their supply chain in Malaysia through Maybank, the largest bank in Malaysia.
- A plunge in economic activity worldwide triggered by the global financial crisis has seen Japanese affiliates and Malaysian firms confronted with severer business conditions and rapid decrease in production. This is especially pronounced in the export sector. In January this year, the Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM) submitted an urgent proposal, which included financing measures to counter a rapid downturn in the business environment, to the Malaysian government. This reflected growing expectation for an effective policy response. To meet the needs of the firms in a timely manner, JBIC has considered this loan as a concrete support measure. This is the first loan that JBIC has provided to Maybank, the largest commercial bank in Malaysia, and is expected to help promote smooth credit flows to Japanese affiliates and their local business partners by utilizing Maybank's broad network.
- Japan and Malaysia signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in December 2005 (which came into effect in July 2006) that included cooperation to improve the business environment. This loan will support business activities, including trade and investment, by improving the financing environment, thereby contributing to strengthening of the mutually beneficial economic partnership between Japan and Malaysia.
- In responding to the current global economic deterioration, JBIC is committed to implementing effective measures to support the overseas business activities of Japanese affiliates by utilizing a variety of financial instruments.
- *1 JBIC is the international wing of the Japan Finance Corporation (JFC; Governor: Shosaku Yasui).
- *2 As of April 2009, according to JACTIM.