BANGKOK – The Minister of Finance has expressed his satisfaction towards the SME Bank’s proposed policy to reduce non performing loans (NPLs) while calling for an e-payment project to help support small to medium startups.
Minister of Finance Apisak Tantivorawong spoke after his policy statement to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank), expressing his satisfaction towards the bank’s proposed policy to reduce NPLs by 4-5 percent per year from the current amount of 26 percent. He also called for the bank to move forward with e-payment solutions to strengthen SMEs with support from the Ministry of Finance.
Meanwhile, President SME Bank Salinee Wangtan said the Finance Minister’s policy address will focus more on the SME Bank realizing its principal purpose of supporting SMEs rather than garnering as much profit as possible. The Ministry of Finance has therefore adjusted its bonus system accordingly so that SME Bank employees will still receive performance benefits despite the bank garnering less profit.
