Bangkok--3 Nov--KASIKORNBANK
KASIKORNBANK joins hands with 35 allied banks from nine countries to announce ASEAN+3 Banking Initiative, which is aimed to enhance service provision for customers seeking to conduct cross-border transactions. The collaboration on banking products and services, as well as financial human resources development, will be through Taksila ASEAN Banking Forum – a platform where expert bankers join to develop training courses and share their experience, aiming to reinforce cooperation on financial transactions and to offer international standard banking services prior to the AEC advent.
Mr. Banthoon Lamsam, KASIKORNBANK Chairman of the Board, said the regional integration under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of 2015 will allow for freer movements of capital, goods and services, which will stimulate economic activities within the ASEAN+3 bloc and raise trade/investment volume. It is essential that commercial banks in the region rapidly adjust to customers’ ever-changing needs in order to provide cross-border trade advisory with in-depth information and banking innovative products through efficient channels.
With this initiation, KBank has signed a cooperation agreement with 35 allied banks from nine countries – Thailand, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam and Lao PDR, aiming at sharing expertise in banking business development. This is the first cooperation of its kind that will bring ASEAN banking to the international level with the “ASEAN+3 Banking Alliance” under the Bangkok Declaration, which will see expert bankers exchange knowledge, banking experience and contribute their expertise that will lead to many financial innovations. Service provision boundaries will be expanded through cooperation with local alliance in introducing new products and services for local customers.
Moreover, KBank – as the initiator of Bangkok Declaration – has organized Taksila ASEAN Banking Forum as a platform for knowledge exchange and human resources development through two uniquely designed programs: (1) Taksila ASEAN Banking Forum Leadership Program 2015 for top executives and future leaders with potential, and (2) Taksila ASEAN Banking Forum Banking Expertise Program 2015 for banking product specialists and top managers who lead product development and services deliveries.
Mr. Banthoon added that, to materialize the objectives of the Bangkok Declaration, ASEAN banks need to cooperate on developing quality and enhancing cross-border transaction services to reach out to regional customers in all corners.