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32 EXIM BANK MALAYSIA ANNUAL REPORT 2022

CHAIRMAN’S

STATEMENT

Fortifying

Readiness

Dear Stakeholders,

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Geopolitical tensions continued to impact global recovery in 2022,
but it was a revitalised year of recovery for Malaysia as our nation

recorded encouraging GDP growth of 8.7% for 2022. This was anchored
on recovery of business, consumer and investor confidence as a result
of the transition to the endemic phase post COVID-19. For EXIM Bank
Malaysia Berhad (EXIM or the Bank), it marked a shift back to full focus
on our mandate and a period of strengthening our foothold in a new era

of global volatilities and sustainable business aspirations.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am privileged to present to you

EXIM BANK’s annual report for the financial year ended 31 December
2022.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW Having sustained impairment losses, the Bank thus
placed priority on diligent credit management, while
The challenges for 2022 were defined by the Russia-Ukraine maintaining focus on growing loans and financing portfolio.
hostilities and the resulting supply chain disruptions. More opportunities were sought through strategic alliances
Earlier in the year, the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic with other Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) and
season also continued to cause uncertainty in several other Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), and there was
countries. As a result of these hurdles, the global continued investment in transforming people and technology.
economy expanded at a slower pace despite the gradual
reopening of nations and markets throughout 2022, Where investment in people is concerned, I take this
which is appropriately reflected by the IMF GDP growth opportunity to welcome Arshad Mohamed Ismail,
estimation of 3.4% as compared to 2021’s 6.2% estimation. who was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Bank effective 1 August 2022. We look forward to his
Malaysia however, recorded one of the fastest growth rates experience, especially in the areas of corporate banking,
in Southeast Asia and robust export trade activity, which debt capital market, Islamic finance, asset management and
grew 25% from RM1.2 trillion in FY2021 to a record high of development finance in effecting the change that EXIM needs
RM1.6 trillion in 2022. Trade surplus was achieved for at this point in time. The Bank is now focused on dynamically
the 25th consecutive year and was at an all-time high at renewing industry engagements, restrategising for portfolio
RM255.1 billion. That said, Malaysia’s headline inflation during growth, improving operational efficiencies and revitalising
the year increased to 3.3%, leading Bank Negara Malaysia high performance service delivery.
(BNM) to raise Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) four times at
25bps each to 2.75% in 2022.