KUALA TERENGGANU, April 7 (Bernama) -- Agrobank today organised a business networking session called “Agenda Agro: Prospect and Opportunities in Agriculture Sector” in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. The programme was attended by more than 170 Agrobank’s clients and agropreneurs from the state.

Agenda Agro is one of Agrobank’s initiatives to provide latest updates to Agrobank’s customer and agropreneurs on the latest prospects and information in agriculture sector. The business session provides opportunity for the clients to interact with Agrobank’s officers and also to learn more on opportunities in this sector.

According to Tuan Syed Alwi Mohamed Sultan, President / Chief Executive Officer of Agrobank, Agrobank is committed to assist agropreneurs through various initiatives including trainings and capacity building. In addition to comprehensive financing offered for agri-businesses, the sharing session like Agenda Agro helps to assist agropreneurs to develop strategically plan in expanding their business.

“Terengganu has great potential in agriculture sector. As at December 2018, Agrobank has recorded a total financing of RM448.03 million for Terengganu state, a year-on-year increase of 25.39%, which is higher than last year’s growth recorded of 3.74% for the same period of time,” said Syed Alwi added.

He added, “Agenda Agro focuses on topics related to the challenges faced by agropreneurs mainly by the small and medium enterprise (SMEs). Agrobank provides various platforms to support the SME development such as strategic collaboration with agencies, developing agropreneur development programmes and we also share information about our products and services. We are hopeful that initiative like this will create positive impacts on the development of successful entrepreneurs".

At the same event, PROKHAS also delivered a presentation on working capital guarantee scheme (WCGS) by Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Berhad (SJPP). WCGS was established to assist SME in all sectors to gain access to financing from participating Financial Institutions (including Agrobank).

At the event, several presentations were also held:

- Strategic partnership with Top IT Industries Sdn Bhd with the appointment of AGROAgent at 38 Pusat Bestari.
- Presentation of Agro Nurani takaful sponsorship by five (5) caring corporate with total sponsorship amounting RM765,000 benefitting 50 people with disabilities (PWDs).
- Presentation of sponsorship of takaful Agro Mabrur-i to 1,068 asnaf in Terengganu through Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM) amounting RM80,100.
- Zakat contribution to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) amouting RM30,000.

Terengganu is the first location of Agenda Agro for this year. In addition to Terengganu, the next Agenda Agro session will also be held in Sarawak and Johor. 

About Agrobank

Agrobank is a leader in agriculture financing and values-based banking based (VBI)* in Malaysia. Established in 1969, Agrobank is actively involved in charting the growth and development of Malaysia’s agriculture industry by offering shariah compliant products and solutions across various customer segments including corporate, commercial, consumer, trade finance and micro financing customers. Agrobank is a full-fledged Islamic bank since 1st July 2015.

As a market driven, customer-centric DFI (Development Financial Institution) with a primary focus on strengthening the agriculture sector in Malaysia, Agrobank strikes an equal balance to its developmental and commercial roles to benefit the agriculture sector. Agrobank provides a comprehensive repertoire of financing solutions for the agriculture community; that includes upstream activities related to primary food and commodities-based agriculture activities to downstream activities such as processing, marketing and distribution of agricultural products.

Agrobank also offers retail banking financing solutions to improve the well-being of the agriculture community. This is done through its network of 192 customer touch points including 138 branches, 1 agro banking, 1 virtual banking, 10 commercial financing centre, 34 kiosk, 8 agro corners & agro point

In 2019, Agrobank celebrates its golden jubilee Anniversary, as it marks 50 years of its proud establishment developing the agro industry.

www.agrobank.com.my

* VBI or value-based intermediation is an initiative by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) which aims to improve the products and services offered by Islamic financial institutions towards a better facilitation of entrepreneurship, community well-being, sustainable environment and economic growth, without compromising on shareholders’ returns

Issued by Strategic Communications Department, Agrobank

Source: Agrobank

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Ainul Rofidza Ibrahim
Tel: 03-2731 1600 (ext 2624) / 019-2258210
Email: ainul.ibrahim@agrobank.com.my

Name: Syarifah Syameen Syed Johari
Tel: 03-2731 1600 (ext 1652) / 012-3101766
Email: syameen@agrobank.com.my 

--BERNAMA