CIMB Group has announced plans to strengthen its role in infrastructure and ESG-linked financing, as well as trade settlement frameworks within the ASEAN Plus Three region. The announcement was made during the 15th China ASEAN Interbank Association (CAIBA) and 6th ASEAN Plus Three Inter Bank Cooperation Mechanism (APTIBCM) meetings, which CIMB co-hosted with China Development Bank in Kuala Lumpur.
During the summit, two Joint Statements were signed by member banks from CAIBA and APTIBCM. These statements reaffirm a commitment to enhance economic cooperation and cross-border collaborations among all participating members.
The meetings included representatives from one bank of each ASEAN country, along with banks from China, Japan, and South Korea. Discussions focused on topics such as economic cooperation, cross-border financing, payments, treasury operations, sustainable development, ESG principles, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. The goal is to promote regional trade growth and investment through shared best practices and innovations.
Gurdip Singh Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Malaysia said: “With Malaysia as the Chair of ASEAN in 2025, we are pleased that our shared commitments align closely with ASEAN’s theme this year – Inclusivity and Sustainability. In a world of accelerating change, hyper connectivity and dynamic economies, CIMB’s purpose has never been clearer – we are not just a bank. Our purpose is to advance customers and societies, to foster inclusion and be a reliable partner to connect the member banks in CAIBA and APTIBCM and their clients to ASEAN and beyond, supporting dynamic economic development across the region. Our strength lies in the diversity of our 33,000 employees across 10 countries, serving over 30 million customers including member banks at CAIBA and APTIBCM and their clients where we match long-term capital with regional projects, improving local currency access and strengthening the rails for trade, infrastructure and sustainable development deeply, sustainably and inclusively.”
Chu Kok Wei, Chief Executive Officer for Group Wholesale Banking at CIMB Group added: “Our collaborative network across the region is poised to leverage the capacity building initiatives we have created with the cooperation of regulators, banks and clients to enable greater access to liquidity to support trade. Guided by regulators, we will also continue to spur innovations that will aid the growth of cross-border payments to spearhead SME participation, tourism flows and cost-effective trade settlement in local currencies underscoring many areas of cooperation within CAIBA and APTIBCM.”
Wang Weidong from China Development Bank stated: “China Development Bank remains committed to working with all parties to build a high-quality financial cooperation mechanism that supports regional prosperity and development. We will continue to leverage instruments such as the Belt and Road Special Loan, RMB financing windows,and the China–ASEAN Common Development Special Loan. We aim to promote a low-carbon transition drive innovation-driven growth harness the digital economy,and jointly advance key projects in infrastructure connectivity,sustainable development industrial,and supply chain cooperation clean energy green technology scientific innovation,and transformation of the manufacturing sector.”
The event was attended by senior officials including Adnan Zaylani Mohamed Zahid from Bank Negara Malaysia; Sun Shuqiang from China’s Embassy in Malaysia; Gurdip Singh Sidhu; Chu Kok Wei; Wang Weidong; along with representatives from all member banks.
CAIBA consists of CIMB Group alongside China Development Bank plus one representative bank per ASEAN nation. APTIBCM expands this group by including Japan Bank for International Cooperation as well as Korea Development Bank.
