OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2012. ICBC opened 2012 Work Conference in Beijing. As related, ICBC will reaffirm the principle of serving real economy and step up the support to economic restructuring and weak segments in economic and social development through innovation, through comprehensive financial services and functions to help companies save cost, preserve and add value to the assets. ICBC aims to step up the quality and level of services to real economy, reported the press-centre of ICBC.

This year, ICBC will align with economic restructuring and industry upgrade while maintaining optimal loan portfolio and balanced growth. Priority is to extend credit to "Four New Markets" - advanced manufacturing sector, strategic emerging industry, modern service sector and cultural industry, with a focus on "Three Strategic Segments" - trade finance, SME loans and personal consumer loans.

I. Innovative services to cultivate "Four New Markets" - advanced manufacturing sector, strategic emerging industry, modern service sector and cultural industry. The aim is to ensure the growth rate of loans to these four sectors is higher than the average growth rate of corporate loans.

II. Increase the ratio of loans to small-and-medium enterprises, especially the short-term loans such as trade finance which is closely related to the production and business activities of the companies. Targeted lending to small-and-medium enterprises are those engaged in IT, services and processing. More loan resources and innovation will be in place to help small and micro enterprises access bank loans.

III. Tap emerging consumer markets such as culture, education, health and tourism. Innovative bank cards are issued for cardholders to apply for small consumer loans. Forge closer partnership with large-and-medium merchants and high-end merchants in emerging consumer industry. Embark aggressive marketing to promote direct consumer loans.

IV. Priority to support national key work-in-progress projects and large projects stated in the "Twelfth Five-Year" Plan. Innovative financial instruments will be deployed to attract investment in large projects as encouraged under state policy, putting the loans to the best use.

V. Step up the promotion on syndicated loan services, use different capital market instruments such as short-term bonds, mid-term notes, private placement bonds, and embrace innovation to help companies raise capital.

As the ICBC executive said, while serving the growth of real economy, ICBC will ensure the quality and level of services by spending less capital and preventing financial risk. Hence, ICBC will spend more efforts on capital constraint, resource allocation and business portfolio with an aim to achieve sustainable development with low capital consumption, good risk control, strong support to the economy development. Market-oriented, customer-focused, a fundamental objective to improve capacity of financial services and create value for customers are the key to drive financial innovation. Risk prevention is the "life-line" of business operation. To ensure stable loan asset quality, a comprehensive, rigid, scientific and advanced risk management system will be in place to enforce strong monitoring and early warning of credit risk and dispose loans in very early stage. Escalate the global presence in order to better serve "open to the world" and companies to "go global".