Bank Agro and BPR BDC Linkage Program To Support SMEs

BILD JAKARTA-Pasda Tanggal 17 Desember 2008 Group of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is a form of economic life of the majority of Indonesian society. The presence of SMEs can not be separated from the growth of national economy. Therefore, SMEs need the support of government through the empowerment and business development.

To make it happen, the government does business with the development of credit through cooperation between commercial banks and rural banks (BPR). In the banking world, cooperation between the two banks are usually called "Linkage Program". This program has been running since 2004 and in July and the Governor of Bank Indonesia signed a Surat Pemberitahuan Persetujuan Pemberian Kredit (SP3K) between commercial banks and rural banks (BPR) in order Linkage Program.

As one commercial bank, PT Bank Agroniaga Tbk (Bank Agro) in cooperation with PT BPR Bina Dana Cakrawala (BPR BDC) helped support this program. To reinforce this cooperation, on Wednesday, December 17, 2008, Bank Agro and BPR BDC signed cooperation (MoU). Cooperation is the continuation of the Bank Agro financing for BPR BDC which will be distributed to customers of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The funds will be disbursed by the Bank Agro to BPR BDC approximately USD 1 billion.

Linkage Program is very profitable SMEs, as presented by Zainal Arifin, Banking Relationship BPR BDC. "With this partnership will certainly positive impact on SME development. BPR BDC can be a representative of the General Bank for Enterprises Group, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) among others for ease of access to banking institutions, the ease in meeting the requirements of the debtor, increase capacity and expansion of business, and business continuity is more secure, "he said.

Although still fairly young, considered BPR BDC is committed to helping people achieve a healthy economy and reliable. BPR BDC has the right approach to the debtor so that they feel comfortable and confident. This is encouraging Bank Agro to cooperate with BPR BDC. "We saw the BPR BDC with the customer base of micro borrowers and skills in credit risk management is adequate BPR BDC," said Dradjat B. Prasetyo, CEO of Bank Agro.(JOIS BRI)