PUNB to give out RM200m loans this year

KUALA LUMPUR: Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) expects to disburse RM200 million in loans to about 400 entrepreneurs this year from RM195 million in 2016.
Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam said the funding this year will focus on, among others, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in high-tech manufacturing, e-commerce and professional services such as medical, pharmacy and wholesaling.
“From our records, PUNB had approved RM2.5 billion in financing for 6,194 bumiputra companies from 1992 until Feb 28 this year.
“During the period, 783 entrepreneurs were nurtured under PUNB’s SME scheme, involving 307 companies with financing amounting to RM853 million,” he told reporters at the launch of Hijrah Aluminium Sdn Bhd yesterday.
Besides the SME scheme, PUNB provides various Prosper schemes, namely Prosper Pemborong (wholesale), Prosper Runcit (retail), Prosper Teras (core), and Prosper Usahawan Muda (young entrepreneurs).
PUNB provides financing up to RM5 million at an interest of 4% for Prosper Usahawan Muda and 5% for the other schemes.
As some of the companies assisted by PUNB have been affected by the economic uncertainties and weakening ringgit, Ali said, PUNB is monitoring their performance and, if necessary, will help them restructure their loan repayments to enable them to remain competitive.
For the time being, the level of non-performing loans is still manageable, he added. – Bernama