The Thriving Event Focused on Empowering Entrepreneurs with Funding and Insights for Sustainable Growth.
Kuala Lumpur, 17 October 2024 – SME Bank Malaysia Berhad has officially launched the SME Bank FundFest 2024, its inaugural community initiative designed to provide funding access and knowledge-sharing opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups, and growing businesses.
The launch ceremony, held at Avenue K, was officiated by YBhg. Dato’ Sri Khairul Dzaimee bin Daud, Secretary General of the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MECD). He highlighted the importance of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which make up nearly 70 percent of Malaysia’s business landscape. “It is essential to cultivate an ecosystem that enhances the value of SMEs, as they form the backbone of our economy. This initiative marks an important step towards empowering these enterprises and reinforcing their role in national economic growth,” said Dato’ Sri Khairul Dzaimee.
YBhg. Datuk Dr. Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, Acting Group President and CEO of SME Bank, emphasised the importance of addressing the financing challenges faced by early-stage businesses. “SME Bank FundFest 2024 offers a platform where entrepreneurs can engage with funders, gain insights from industry leaders, and explore growth opportunities,” he said. “This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting SMEs and fostering sustainable business practices.”
Collaborative Efforts to Drive Business Growth
The two-day event is organised with SME Bank’s subsidiary CEDAR and various MECD agencies, including Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Tekun Nasional, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional, and Bank Rakyat. Other financiers participating in the event include Bank Simpanan Nasional, Funding Societies, microLEAP, MoneyMatch, pitchIN, and Rural Capital Berhad.
Attendees can engage with funding consultation booths offering personalised financial advice, masterclasses led by industry experts, and panel discussions featuring prominent homegrown entrepreneurs. Topics will cover securing venture capital, scaling businesses, and leveraging new technologies to drive growth.
A Platform for Learning, Networking, and Innovation
With participation from over 20 strategic partners, SME Bank FundFest 2024 aims to attract a diverse audience, including aspiring entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, MSMEs, government agencies, and industry leaders. The event features showcases of products and services from businesses at different stages of their entrepreneurial journeys, providing participants with opportunities to connect and collaborate.
The event runs from 17 to 18 October 2024, from 10 am to 10 pm at Avenue K in Kuala Lumpur. It reinforces SME Bank’s role as a leading development financial institution under MECD, committed to supporting the growth of SMEs and promoting digital and innovative business practices in Malaysia.
Established in 2005, SME Bank is an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MECD), renowned as a leader among Malaysia’s development financial institutions, offering more than just financing by promoting digital transformation and innovative business solutions. SME Bank aligns with the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030, contributing to economic growth by fostering entrepreneurial activities.
For more information on SME Bank FundFest 2024 and SME Bank’s programmes, visit [www.smebank.com.my]
