APPROVED FINANCING UP 19 PCT TO RM4.3 BLN IN 2025 - SME BANK 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank) recorded a strong 2025 performance, with total approved financing of approximately RM4.3 billion, marking a 19 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase.

Relief president and chief executive officer Samad Majid Zain said its 2025 performance reaffirms its developmental mandate to strengthen Malaysia’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) ecosystem.

“Approximately RM3.8 billion (of the RM4.3 billion) was channelled to MSMEs, a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.

“More than 60 per cent of customers secured financing of RM1 million and below, underscoring their continued focus on widening access for underserved and unserved entrepreneurs,” he said in a statement today.

This progress is further reinforced by the government’s trust in the bank, with close to RM2 billion in strategic initiatives mandated under Budget 2026 to accelerate inclusive MSME growth and strengthen enterprise resilience across the economy,” he said.

Beyond financing, Samad said the bank has delivered integrated solutions encompassing capacity building and targeted advisory support.

Last year, the bank supported more than 14,500 entrepreneurs through its developmental, social, and financial inclusion initiatives.

These efforts strengthen Malaysia’s MSME ecosystem, which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, equivalent to more than RM650 billion in economic value. This underscores the sector’s critical role in driving inclusive growth, employment, and economic resilience, the statement said.

The bank said there is sustained demand across key strategic sectors, including bumiputera development, technology and innovation, digital adoption, climate-resilient initiatives, the halal industry, and tourism, in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s Performance Measurement Framework and the MADANI Economic Framework.

-- BERNAMA