BDC receives international recognition for its support of Canadian
entrepreneurs

Asia-Pacific financing association recognizes the Business Development Bank of Canada with awards in the areas of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility

VANCOUVER, May 14 /CNW Telbec/ - The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) has honoured the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) with two awards for the bank's work in the areas of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

The awards were presented at ADFIAP's annual conference in Vancouver this week.

The Corporate Governance award recognized BDC's work in advocating, promoting and sustaining good corporate-governance practices and ideals, while the Corporate Social Responsibility Award honoured the bank's work in aboriginal financing.

"I speak on behalf of all of us at the bank in saying how proud we are to have received this recognition from our international peers," said BDC President and Chief Executive Officer Jean-René Halde. "The awards acknowledge the role that the bank is playing in Canada in supporting entrepreneurs in a sustainable and socially responsible way."

BDC provides financing, venture capital and other services to 28,000 entrepreneurs. The solid governance platform of its board of directors allowed it to meet the extremely difficult challenges prompted by the recent credit freeze and recession. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, BDC provided over $4 billion in loans to Canadian entrepreneurs.

The bank created the Aboriginal Banking Department in 1996 to offer customized, long-term and flexible financing solutions specially designed for Aboriginal entrepreneurs. These include the provision of funding through community-based organization for Aboriginal entrepreneurs who would normally not qualify for a loan.

About BDC

BDC is Canada's business development bank. From more than 100 offices across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs.

About ADFIAP

Founded in 1976, the ADFIAP includes public sector banks and financial institutions engaged in economic and entrepreneurial development of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The ADFIAP, whose mission is to promote sustainable development through its members, is made up of 117 member institutions in 42 countries.

For further information: Johanne Bissonnette, Media Relations Manager, BDC, [phone], [email protected]