Mr. Richard Leung, Vice Chairman of Delta Asia Financial Group, said, "As SME's best partner, Banco Delta Asia understands their needs intimately. To be in line with the government's comprehensive new policies, Banco Delta Asia launches a series of supportive initiatives tailored to assist SMEs in tapping the business potential."

Right after the announcement of the SME supportive initiatives, BDA have received positive response from SMEs. Many inquiries have been received from SMEs from a diversity of industries and sizes of operations and business nature, with the majority from manufacturing and construction businesses. Enquiries were also received from electronic engineering and technology companies with the focus mainly on business expansion and upgrading.

Mr. Leung added, "It reflects that there is substantial demand of SMEs for credit and the government's measures will be able to take care of their needs. BDA will be in active support of the SMEs, assisting them to maximize their potential and tap business opportunities."

The package of measures the government includes: SMEs credit guarantee plan, SMEs Project credit guarantee plan, SMEs loan for improving business operation and business start-up capital plan, all catered for the needs of SMEs in upgrading, business transition and innovation, purchase of equipment and renovation, etc.

Mr. Philip Ng, Executive Director of Banco Delta Asia, remarked that as it takes time for policy announcement to requirements confirmation and approval of applications, the bank is offering an array of supportive initiatives, aimed at providing timely capital to SMEs to grasp the fleeting business opportunities. In addition, we shall also assist the SMEs in drafting business proposals and arranging application to the government with a view to enhancing the chance of success.

Credit guarantee plan is one of the four new government policies. BDA will provide the application submission service, and will pre-approve 50% of the total amount applied before the government approval arrives. Once the approval is granted, the interest rate for the portion of 50% guaranteed by the government will be calculated in accordance with the prime rate.

Under the project credit guarantee plan, BDA will assist the SMEs to submit application and pre-approve 100% loan. SMEs will be able to enjoy the prime rate once the government approves the application.

For the plan of operations improvement loans, the SMEs will receive the loans from BDA first. Once the government approval is granted, SMEs will enjoy all the benefits under the plan.

Furthermore, BDA will also provide professional consultation and business proposal assistance to the business self-starters who apply for government support.

In the past, most of the SMEs faced great difficulties in applying for bank loans due to the lack of assets for mortgage. In view of this, BDA has pioneered with unsecured lending for SMEs in Macau three years ago, assisting them to explore more business opportunities.

For details of the BDA's SMEs supportive initiatives, please call 3958104 for Mr. Calvin Yung.