To support SMEs, BOC has made innovations on such aspects as: operational concepts, organizational structure, product services, specialized flow and risk control, as well as launching a "new business mode for SMEs" and a "Credit Factory" by referring to the advanced experience of domestic and international peers. The pilot project in Shanghai and Fujian has also received the recognition of its customers, local government and regulatory institutions. By the end of 2008, pilot outlets in Shanghai and Quanzhou offered credit support to 462 SMEs. This January, BOC's loans to small enterprise increased to above 10 billion yuan. According to the plan, by the end of Q1, BOC's SME business mode will be populated by up to 16 sub-branches in Beijing and Zhejiang. By late this year, BOC will also build 30-40 "credit factories" in Central and western China.
BOC has also carried out research on the economic situation and industrial policies, enhancing its sensitivity to the change of economic and industrial policies, increased the alert to the risk of over-production, high energy consumption and high pollution industries, increased its study of key industries, emerging industries, local pillar industries and key projects, and accelerated the forward-thinking study of such segmented fields as new energy, new materials and new technology. Currently, BOC has put forward specific development plans to over 40 different industries including, but not limited to, telecom, coal, electronics, photovoltaic, paper making, real estate, iron and steel, cement, shipping, chemical fibre and textiles.
Strengthening business aspects while creating constant reform and innovation
In light of the demand of corporate customers adopting globalization strategies, BOC has a special financial service scheme design, comprehensively utilizing such products and services as project financing, syndicated loans, financing for M&A, overseas funds management, new-type liability financing, and financial advisory to offer effective support for enterprises to expand to the international market by taking advantage of its diversified platform and overseas network. In 2008, BOC successfully undertook the large overseas projects of PetroChina, CNPC, CNOOC, CHINAOIL, Huaneng, CNOOC and China Netcom, with the financing amount surpassing $5 billion.
As the sole leading bank, BOC successfully arranged a $600 million USD syndicated loan for Telstra, the No 1 telecom carrier in Australia, creating a fresh new image in Australia. Once again, as the coordinator and agent, BOC arranged a $592 million USD export credit syndicated loan for Indonesian Indrumaya Power Station, receiving praise from the international financial market and winning the "Best Transaction Award of the Year," jointly awarded by Trade Finance and Global Trade Review. By 2008 Q3, BOC's syndicated loans took the number one position in the Chinese mainland market, Hong Kong and Macao. It placed 4th in all areas of the Asia-Pacific Region, with the exception of Japan, among "entrusted leading banks." BOC's syndicated loans also took the top position in the Chinese mainland market, the 2nd position in the markets of Hong Kong and Macao, and the 1st position in the Asia-Pacific Region, with the exception of Japan, among "bookkeeping banks."
