ME Bank, a subsidiary of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB), has announced stellar achievements for the first half of 2025, empowering 5,735 entrepreneurs – a 158% increase compared to the same period last year. This progress reflects the Bank’s continued alignment with Bank Negara Malaysia’s Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) and the Government’s MADANI economic agenda.
“Our robust performance in the 1H 2025 reinforces our dedication to driving impact beyond financing by providing not only capital, but also capacity-building, innovation, and inclusivity to generate meaningful and enduring results. Underscoring our developmental mandate, we are proud to empower thousands of entrepreneurs across the country. As we move forward, SME Bank will continue to be a catalyst for transformation by delivering innovative solutions and facilitating Malaysia’s MSMEs to thrive locally and globally,” said Datuk Dr. Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, Acting President and CEO of SME Bank.
Driving High-Impact Programmes
Through its capacity-building arm, the Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research (CEDAR), SME Bank has advanced initiatives such as Maju Usahawan MADANI, which aims to assist 3,000 micro entrepreneurs by March 2026. By June 2025, 1,632 participants – including Bumiputera, youth, rural communities, B40 groups, Asnaf, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities – had benefited.
CEDAR has also been appointed ASEAN’s Centre of Excellence for MSMEs in Green Transition, solidifying Malaysia’s regional leadership in sustainable business practices.
Strengthening Strategic Sectors
SME Bank continues to support critical growth areas such as the halal industry, tourism, technology, ESG adoption, and digital transformation. Highlights include:
1. Halal Entrepreneurship Development Programme
Since its launch in 2023, the Halal Entrepreneurship Development Programme has trained more than 400 participants, equipping them with practical business skills, halal certification knowledge, and market insights. The initiative aims to strengthen the competitiveness of halal businesses in both domestic and international markets, ensuring participants are better prepared to tap into the rapidly growing global halal economy.
2. The Program Pembangunan Kapasiti Vendor
SME Bank’s Vendor Capacity Development initiative has successfully onboarded 109 vendors into its ecosystem, providing targeted support in operational efficiency, product quality improvement, and market access. Notably, 28% of these vendors reported at least a 5% increase in revenue by 2024, contributing to a combined vendor revenue of RM1.23 billion. This growth underscores the programme’s role in building resilient, competitive supply chain partners for larger corporations.
3. Business Exports Programme
The Business Exports Programme has generated RM191.93 million in export sales to date, opening doors for local SMEs into high-potential markets such as Southeast Asia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Through trade missions, export readiness training, and strategic partnerships, the programme has positioned participants to scale their businesses globally while enhancing Malaysia’s footprint in international trade.
4. SME Bank XCESS
SME Bank XCESS, the bank’s premier SME business networking and showcase event, generated RM178 million in sales during its 2024 edition. The event brought together entrepreneurs, buyers, and industry experts to create new business opportunities and foster collaborations. Building on this momentum, the 2025 edition is set to take place on 25 September in Kuala Lumpur, promising an even larger platform for SMEs to connect with local and global markets.
Inclusive Growth for Underserved Communities
Programmes like iTEKAD ISHRAF have mobilised over RM5 million in crowd-in funds, resulting in a 126% sales increase among participants, 182 new jobs, and 224 new business networks.
Looking forward, SME Bank will implement over RM1 billion worth of strategic initiatives under the National Budget 2025, including MySMELady 2.0, Dana Kelestarian Alam, and the Vanigham Financing Scheme, further strengthening Malaysia’s SME ecosystem.
Since its inception in 2005, SME Bank has disbursed over RM46 billion in financing to more than 24,000 MSMEs and supported 88,000 entrepreneurs through targeted development programmes.
For more information on SME Bank and its available funding and programmes, visit www.smebankcom.my or call 03-26037700.
