Friday 28/02/2025

 
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (“SME Bank”) continues to empower the SME ecosystem by facilitating 11 Malaysian homegrown SMEs, recording overall potential export sales of RM140 million at the recent Gulfood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (“UAE”). Marking the Bank’s third consecutive year participating in the world's largest annual food and beverage (“F&B”) trade fairs, the event serves as a conduit for entrepreneurs to explore new opportunities and expand their footprint in the global market.
 
SME Bank Acting Group President/Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Dr. Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, said, “Since our first participation in Gulfood in 2023, SME Bank has successfully facilitated 33 Malaysian companies onto the global stage, recording approximately RM378 million in potential export sales. Through our Export Acceleration Mission (“EAM”), we are empowering local businesses through the Business Exports Programme (“BEP”), an initiative under the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (“MECD”) – to this premier trade platform. Led by SME Bank in collaboration with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (“MATRADE”), this initiative strengthens our Malaysian entrepreneurs footprint in international markets, opening doors for greater export opportunities.”
                                                                                                                                   
The week-long event also saw World Prominence Sdn Bhd, a company under SME Bank’s BEP in a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) with Senior Global LLC, UAE. In addition, two companies unveiled their latest product innovation, with Nims Adeliciousz Sdn Bhd introducing its newest product line, including Nims Cereal, Nims Choco Sauce, Nims Spread, Nims Liquid Chocolate, and Nims Beverage Choco Drinks. Meanwhile, BS Fitness Nutrition Sdn Bhd launched their latest innovation – the BS Protein Cookies, a nutritious and delicious offering to support health and fitness.
  
Gulfood 2025 provided a dynamic platform for Malaysian SMEs to connect with global buyers, distributors, and investors. SME Bank has seized this opportunity to give a high-impact platform to Malaysian SMEs to showcase their distinctive products and tap into the global market. These participating companies represent Malaysia’s dynamic F&B sector, a key driver of the national economy with strong export potential. This sector significantly contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and continues to thrive, fuelled by the increasing global demand for halal-certified and high-quality products. Through platforms like Gulfood, Malaysian SMEs are well-positioned to expand their international reach and capitalise on emerging market opportunities.
 
Aligning with SME Bank’s developmental mandate, the Bank continues to extend its support to local SMEs to expand their global footprint through a wide array of propositions comprising financing and beyond financing support. These include some of the programmes mandated to SME Bank in the National Budget 2025 such as the Jaguh Serantau Programme and HalalBiz Financing. To complement this, the Bank’s Vendor Development Programme and Halal Entrepreneurship Development Programme have also been instrumental in catapulting the growth in SMEs within these key strategic sectors.
 
Since its establishment in 2005, SME Bank has extended its financial assistance amounting to RM48 billion, benefiting almost 25,000 entrepreneurs. As the only Development Financial Institution in the country with a dedicated capacity-building arm, the Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research (“CEDAR”), SME Bank has also assisted over 85,000 entrepreneurs in their growth journeys.
 
Explore more about SME Bank’s initiatives at www.smebank.com.my or contact SME Bank’s Customer Contact Centre at +603-2603 7700.

SME BANK GULFOOD DUBAI 2025 - Google Drive

Issued by:
SME Bank Group Strategic Communication

SOURCE: SME Bank

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Arnee Ismail
Head, Group Strategic Communication
SME Bank
Tel:  03-2615 2954
Email: arnee.ismail@smebank.com.my

-- BERNAMA