KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) — Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (“SME Bank”) has established a strategic partnership with CDC International Sdn. Bhd. (“CDCi”) through a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) aimed at expanding financial access and digital solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises (“MSMEs”) in Malaysia – in addition to providing them with a comprehensive capability development initiative through the Bank’s subsidiary, the Centre for Entrepreneur Development & Research (“CEDAR”). This initiative underscores SME Bank’s commitment to driving the digital and financial empowerment of MSMEs, recognising their pivotal role as the backbone of Malaysia’s economy.
Datuk Dr. Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, Acting Group President/Chief Executive Officer of SME Bank said, “We are pleased to welcome CDCi as our partner, underscoring our commitment to help our homegrown SMEs scale up and advance their aspirations. Since 2021, our digital platforms, including ELSA, ScoreXcess, and ODELA have supported nearly 5,000 SMEs across key sectors. This strategic collaboration emphasises on facilitation of market access and business development through CDCi’s SPEED, a digital procurement platform that connects SME suppliers with large buyers from both the public and private sectors – reaffirming our commitment to building a strong digital ecosystem while aligning with the Government’s MADANI framework, which prioritises the digital economy as a key driver of growth.”
