BRI set to expand credits

BRI set to expand credits

State-owned lender Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) is planning to
expand credits to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by
20 percent next year, bank president Rudjito said on Thursday.

Currently, the bank's lending exposure to SMEs accounted for
around 86 percent of its total credit of Rp 55 trillion, Rudjito
said, making it the largest player in the micro-credit sector.

He confirmed the bank was waiting for approval from the
ministry of finance about its proposal to write off SME debts
amounting to Rp 500 billion.

The figure was among the 13.5 trillion worth of SME debts that
are being considered for write-offs by the ministry . -- JP