Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia (SME Bank), a subsidiary of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB), has successfully concluded its annual flagship event, SME Bank XCESS 2025, unlocking an estimated RM45 million in potential sales for Malaysian SMEs.
Held under the theme “Entrepreneur Gateway to the ASEAN Market” in conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, the platform connected 500 SMEs with 20 ASEAN buyers through more than 180 business meetings, reaffirming SME Bank’s role as a leading driver of regional SME trade integration.
Government Support for SME Growth
Officiating the event, YB Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (MECD), emphasised SMEs’ importance to Malaysia’s economy, projecting that by 2025, SMEs will contribute 41% of GDP, 15% of exports, and support nearly half of the national workforce.
“Platforms such as XCESS 2025 are vital in integrating Malaysian SMEs into the ASEAN economy through strategic partnerships, market access, and stronger regional competitiveness,” said the Minister.
Financing, Networking, and Capacity Building
According to Samad Majid Zain, Relief President/CEO of SME Bank, the event went beyond business matching to include access to financing, structured capacity-building, and networking sessions.
In collaboration with MATRADE and supported by MECD, the event gathered government-linked companies, multinationals, anchor firms, financiers, and entrepreneurs, offering advisory clinics, curated showcases, and trade exhibitions to open new growth pathways.
Driving Growth Beyond Borders
Coinciding with XCESS 2025, a tripartite collaboration was formalised between SME Bank, EXIM Bank, and BPMB through the Trade Credit Takaful Facility, delivering tangible results with its first transaction: an RM11.1 million export deal by SME Bank client Amat Sinar Sdn. Bhd. to China and the United States.
In addition, an MoU between Medic Pets International Sdn. Bhd. and Kazakhstan’s Daukey Kokpar Club will support product registration and market expansion in Kazakhstan, showcasing how SME Bank’s Business Exports Programme (BEP) continues to strengthen Malaysian SMEs’ international presence.
Since 2020, the BEP has assisted 98 SMEs, generating RM419 million in export sales across Southeast Asia, the UAE, UK, and US, while its broader Export Acceleration Mission has secured RM614 million in potential export sales since 2022.
Strengthening Malaysia’s Position in Global Trade
Since its inception in 2016, SME Bank XCESS has facilitated over 1,800 business meetings, engaged nearly 150,000 SME participants, and partnered with almost 150 strategic organisations.
The 2025 edition reinforces SME Bank’s mission to transform ambition into opportunity, empowering SMEs to capture growth in ASEAN and global markets.
For more information on SME Bank and its programmes, visit www.smebank.com.my.
