Alliance Bank organises Post-Budget Talk, helps SMEs hone their competitive edge

Almost 200 SME customers attended the Alliance Bank Post Budget 2009 Talk held in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Kuala Lumpur, 10 September 2008 - Budget 2009 has in place various incentives aimed at up-scaling Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing section and its related services. These incentives will help drive players to become more competitive, innovative and cost-efficient while helping to spur greater entrepreneurial spirit. This was the general message at the Alliance Bank Annual Post-Budget Talk that was organised today by the Bank especially for SMEs.

Datuk Bridget Lai, Group Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad & Director, Alliance Financial Group Berhad reiterated Alliance Bank's commitment to doing its part in ensuring the sustainability of SMEs. "In what is expected to be an even more challenging environment, we believe that there are opportunities within the Budget that can greatly benefit SMEs. This annual Talk is held for us to share some of our insights and views from the taxation point of view, from the industry and economic points of view and, most importantly, from the funding perspective," she said.

"We pride ourselves as a true and effective partner to SMEs and we are committed to investing time, energy and resources to nurture and grow the SME segment. We will continue to build on our strong foundation and relationship with our SME customer base through a niche and segment-focus approach. Our goal is to offer our SME customers an array of products and services that go beyond financial advice and solutions. Rather, we aim to meet the needs of our SME customers at every stage of their financial growth and development so that they can grow as an integrated and comprehensive business enterprise, prepared to face regional and global challenges," added Datuk Lai.

Speakers at the annual Post Budget Talk included Koong Lin Loong, a Certified Accountant and currently the Deputy Chairman of Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia SMEs; Lee Choong San, Executive Director, Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn Bhd and Hamdan Yusof, Economist, Alliance Research Sdn Bhd.