PMB Tijari Offers New Financing Model Focused on Helping Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Access Loans

KUALA LUMPUR - PMB Tijari Bhd (PMB Tijari), a collaboration between Pelaburan Mara Bhd (Pelaburan Mara) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, intends to offer a new financing model specifically aimed at segments that have difficulty obtaining financing from commercial banks.

PMB Tijari's Chief Executive Officer, Wan Sazriz Wan Zahid, said that the company is open to collaborating with government-linked companies, financial institutions, and business-to-business suppliers to develop this financing model.

He explained that since taking up the role in January, he has reviewed the company's long-term plans and believes that PMB Tijari requires a fresh approach and needs to identify specific areas to address.

"As a company focused on financing Bumiputera entrepreneurship development, we are working on a model that can address segments that have previously found it difficult to secure financing.

"For instance, companies involved in vendor development programs and supply chains. These companies may not have access to financing because they fail to meet certain standards or are in different phases of business, too small, for example.

"We aim to provide financing to such companies, but this will likely only be possible through collaboration with key companies, such as ministries, government agencies, or those awarding projects to these companies," he said.

He made this statement during a press conference held at the Pelaburan Mara headquarters here recently.

According to Wan Sazriz, the development of this financing model is progressing in stages, and in the second quarter of this year, the company expects to launch a financing program in collaboration with another company.

He emphasized that the initiative aims to support policies related to the development of Bumiputera businesses.

Since its establishment in 2014, the company has provided RM200 million in financing to 100 businesses.

This year, the company targets to provide financing ranging from RM80 million to RM100 million to 40 to 50 new entrepreneurs.

Commenting on efforts to provide financing to more entrepreneurs, Wan Sazriz said that the company plans to increase the proportion of short-term financing (less than a year) compared to long-term financing, from the current 60:40 ratio to 80:20 over the next three years.

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