Talks will be held with Bank Negara on ways to make it easier for companies to get loans to develop green technology, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin.
He said financial institutions should be positive in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which required funds to embark on green technology projects.
“What banks should think is: how much business can I create, instead of how many bad debts I will make’ when evaluating loans by SMEs which want to develop such technology,” he said during a dialogue at the 3rd International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (Igem 2012) yesterday.
Malaysia took a major step in its national green agenda after global experts submitted a roadmap on green public procurement to the Government.
Dubbed the KL Declaration, the document was signed by green experts from 13 countries and the United Nations Environment Programme after deliberating it at the three-day Igem 2012.
The roadmap covers policies and regulations as well as training programmes to build awareness on green procurement.
The meeting, which saw dialogue among experts from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, was organised by the Green Purchasing Network Malaysia in collaboration with the Malaysian Productivity Corporation.
At another event, Chin said the business community should have the environment in mind when doing business and that the green award given by the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) would help boost environmental protection awareness.
“At the end of the day, we want our trading community to have the environment in mind when it does business,” he said during MCCC’s press conference announcing the opening of nominations for this year’s awards.
MCCC vice-president Ngan Teng Ye said MCCC started the Green Award, co-organised with the Asean Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET), was to promote awareness on the importance of sustainable businesses.
“The recycling industry has proven to be a big, growing business,” he said.
AAET secretary-general and MCCC Green Award 2012 chief judge Choo Kok Beng said the award was meant for young technopreneurs aged 40 and below.
Among others, the award is open to those who have made a mark in reducing greenhouse gas emissions/improving air quality, protecting land/water resources and biodiversity, minimising waste and promoting green concepts.
