KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia’s (SME Bank) annual flagship business-matching event SME Bank XCESS 2025 is expected to generate potential sales of up to RM45 million, with more than 180 business sessions scheduled.
Chairman Datuk Muslim Hussain said SME Bank is pleased to bring together 500 local entrepreneurs with 20 buyers from Asean countries.
“This platform creates opportunities for business negotiations and serves as a bridge to broaden access to regional markets and to strengthen Malaysian entrepreneurs’ global presence,” he said at the SME Bank XCESS 2025 launch, here today.
Officiating the event, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the platform is a clear example of how government and development financial institutions (DFIs) collaborate to advance the nation’s economic development objectives while empowering SMEs.
“It is more than just a networking event. SME Bank XCESS 2025 opens up opportunities for bumiputra entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in international business matches, expand markets, and build strategic relationships among industry players.
“With financial support, strategic collaborations, and capacity building, our entrepreneurs will be able to create a greater impact, not only in terms of profit, but to advance Malaysia’s economic excellence internationally,” he said.
Meanwhile, Muslim said the annual business-matching event is a clear testament reaffirming SME Bank’s developmental mandate as one of Malaysia’s leading DFIs and a proud member of the Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (BPMB) group to support SMEs advancement across the nation.
Since its inception, the XCESS programme has organised more than 1,800 business sessions, engaged about 150,000 SME participants, and collaborated with about 150 strategic partners.
Last year’s XCESS event generated potential sales of RM177.87 million through 252 meetings with 24 international buyers.
It has facilitated over 1,800 business meetings, engaged nearly 150,000 SME participants and collaborated with about 150 strategic partners since its 2016 inception.
In conjunction with the launch of XCESS 2025, Muslim said SME Bank and BPMB, together with EXIM Bank, will form a tripartite collaboration via a trade credit takaful facility, reflecting BPMB group’s efforts to strengthen the DFI ecosystem.
“SME Bank will provide financial financing and EXIM Bank financial support with risk protection. This facility is also extended to BPMB customers, thus strengthening our mandate to drive national development and high-impact financing,” Muslim said.
A memorandum of understanding was exchanged between Medic Pets International Sdn Bhd and Daukey Kokpar Club at the same event, which underscores how SME Bank paves new pathways for local SMEs to penetrate global markets.
Medic Pets is an SME Bank business exports programme (BEP) participant, while Daukey Kokpar Club is Kazakhstan’s equestrian sports organisation.
