Banking and Finance
The Malaysian financial system comprises commercial banks, finance companies, merchant banks and discount houses. Malaysia's banking sector offers a comprehensive range of trade financing facilities. These facilities include offshore foreign currency loans, export credit and refinancing, trust receipts and guarantees.

Finance companies provide a range of services for the business sector. These include hire purchase facilities and loans.

Merchant banks in Malaysia are evolving into full-service investment banks offering investment advice and specialised services relating to corporate finance and management. Services provided include international factoring, import-export factoring and asset and fund management.

Islamic banking and finance has been developed as a viable alternative to conventional banking in Malaysia to position the country as the regional Islamic financial centre. In addition to full Islamic banks like Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad and Bank Muamalat Berhad, other financial institutions also offer Islamic banking or interest-free banking services.

Offshore Financial Services
Labuan was established as an international offshore financial centre (IOFC) in October 1990 to complement the activities of the domestic financial sector. Currently, offshore financial services are provided by more than 60 offshore banks, and nearly 80 offshore insurance companies.

Labuan's offshore banking industry covers the business of providing credit facilities and receiving deposits, offshore investment banking, Islamic banking, development finance and leasing.

Other financial services available include insurance and reinsurance provided by offshore insurance companies. Consistent with Malaysia's niche business in Islamic finance and banking, full Islamic banks also provide similar offshore banking services. 'Takaful' and 'retakaful' services are also widely available.

The Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank)
A wholly owned subsidiary of Bank Industri and Teknologi Berhad, EXIM Bank is dedicated to promoting Malaysian international trade by providing financing and credit for both exporters and importers of Malaysian goods and services, targeting the new and emerging markets.

Services offered by EXIM bank include :

• Buyer Credit Facility which is a direct or indirect loan to foreign importers.
• Supplier Credit Facility which offers working capital loans to Malaysian exporters or credit to foreign buyers.
  

For further enquiries on EXIM Bank,
please visit their website www.exim.com.my or call 603-2692 7077.