AFFIN Holdings Bhd and its foreign partner, Hong Kong's The Bank of East Asia Ltd, have submitted a proposal to the China Banking Regulation Authority (CBRA) to open China's first Islamic bank.
AFFIN Holdings Bhd and its foreign partner, Hong Kong's The Bank of East Asia Ltd, have submitted a proposal to the China Banking Regulation Authority (CBRA) to open China's first Islamic bank.
"CBRA is currently still studying the regulation and practices of Islamic finance. We hope to be the first Islamic bank in China once the authority has come up with the regulations," said BEA chairman and chief executive officer Dr David K.P Li in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The partnership will allow Affin Bank to make use of over 240 BEA branches worldwide covering Hong Kong, China, North America, the UK and Southeast Asia. BEA is also the single biggest foreign shareholder of Affin with a 23.5 per cent stake.
"We are confident that this strategic alliance will place both banks in a better position in many Asian markets and enable us to tap an even wider business opportunities," Affin Holdings chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin said.
Early this month, Affin Bank bought Indonesia bank PT Bank Ina Perdana for RM138 million, its first venture outside of Malaysia. It may also offer Islamic finance services in the country which has a population of more than 200 million people.
Source: www.opalesque.com
Contacts |
Русский
