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Syed Mashafuddin (third left) and Sudarnoto exchange the signed MoUs while witnessed by Fatimah (third right), Morshidi (right), Musa (second left) and Fung. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (July 25): Affin Group (Affin) today launched its inaugural AFFIN BizChat aimed at supporting the entrepreneurship journey by providing a platform for businesses to explore the latest market trends, discover valuable business tips, and connect with industry players and experts.
Affin Islamic Bank Berhad chief executive officer Dato Paduka Syed Mashafuddin Syed Badarudin said the event marked a significant milestone not only for Affin but the entire small medium enterprise (SME) community in Sarawak.
“It underscores our commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth and driving innovation throughout Sarawak.
“AFFIN BizChat is more than just an event; it is a gateway to opportunity. It is our flagship interactive business platform designed to support your entrepreneurial journey by providing insights into the latest market trends, offering valuable business tips, and creating connections with industry players and experts,” he said during the launch at a leading hotel here.
Gracing the event was Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
Syed Mashafuddin said the event’s theme ‘Driving Sustainable Business with Artificial Intelligence (AI)’, could not have been more timely or relevant as the integration of AI into business strategies is no longer an option but a necessity for sustainable growth and competitiveness.
“In fact, studies suggest that AI has the potential to contribute almost US$1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2030, with Malaysia positioned to capture US$115 billion of this total,” he said.
He also said that AI can contribute to Sarawak’s strategy and drive sustainable business growth in sectors such as digital economy, agriculture and food security, renewable energy and tourism among others.
The event, which gathered more than 200 SMEs, featured a series of insightful discussions, a business forum, and the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with three key industry players in Sarawak namely Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) Kuching Branch, and Chemsain Sustainability Sdn Bhd.
The MoUs were signed by Syed Mashafuddin, Affin Bank Berhad Group Enterprise Banking executive director Fung Kai Jin, SDEC chief executive officer Sudarnoto Osman, DUBS Kuching Branch chairman Drahman Jaladin, and Chemsain Sustainability executive chairman Dr John Chan Sung Tong.
Also present as witnesses were Affin Islamic Bank Berhad chairman Musa Abdul Malek, Affin Bank Berhad Group Enterprise Banking head of Business Marketing and Development Raymond Lee Wei Hwa, SDEC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, DUBS Kuching Branch deputy chairman Syed Hossin Wan Hamit, and Chemsain Sustainability director Timothy Chan Xi Jin.
Syed Mashafuddin said the signing of the MoUs demonstrated Affin’s commitment to empowering businesses in Sarawak.
“Through these collaborations, we aim to provide comprehensive support for SMEs in their digital transformation journey; facilitate access to a collaborative ecosystem, sharing business resources and best practices; drive innovation in the region; and offer a full range of solutions to address both the financial and non-financial needs of SMEs in Sarawak.
“We believe these partnerships will be instrumental in accelerating the growth and sustainability of local businesses,” he said.
He said Affin’s footprint in Sarawak has continued to grow with the Group supporting over 730 SMEs in the state thus far.
“We are not stopping there – our newly launched Mobile Financial Centre 2 in Kuching is set to enhance our service delivery even further.
“As part of our commitment to a cashless future, we are delighted to introduce AFFINMAX, our award-winning Corporate Internet Banking Platform, recognised as the Malaysia Domestic Cash Management Bank of the Year by the Asian Banking & Finance Wholesale Banking Awards 2024.
“AFFINMAX offers a range of features designed to streamline your business operations, from real-time fund transfers to comprehensive cash management solutions,” he said.
An accompanying bazaar for Rakaniaga (‘business partners’ from the award-winning SME Colony app) was organised in conjunction with the event to showcase their products and services, expand their commercial network among like-minded entrepreneurs, boost brand awareness, and increase exposure nationwide.
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