SME Bank-CDCi MoU out to boost financial access, digital solutions for MSMEs

KUALA LUMPUR (March 4): Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank) has entered into a strategic partnership with CDC International Sdn Bhd (CDCi) through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance financial access and digital solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Malaysia.

The collaboration aims to provide these MSMEs with comprehensive capability development initiatives via SME Bank’s subsidiary, the Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research (Cedar).

This initiative also underscores SME Bank’s dedication to driving digital and financial empowerment, recognising MSMEs as the backbone of Malaysia’s economy.

Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, acting group president and chief executive officer of SME Bank, remarked: “We are pleased to welcome CDCi as our partner, reaffirming our commitment to supporting homegrown SMEs in achieving their aspirations.

“Since 2021, our digital platforms which include ELSA (Enterprise Lifecycle Scoring Assessment), ScoreXcess, and ODELA have supported nearly 5,000 SMEs across key sectors.

“This strategic collaboration will facilitate market access and business development through CDCi’s ‘SPEED’ digital procurement platform, which connects SME suppliers with large buyers from both the public and private sectors.

“This initiative aligns with the government’s Madani framework, prioritising the digital economy as a key growth driver.”

The SEM Bank-CDCi partnership will also focus on developing key strategic sectors, particularly technology and digital industries.

SME Bank’s SME Technology Transformation Fund (STTF), as mandated in the national Budget 2025, will play a crucial role in this effort.

Additionally, training, certification and capacity-building programs would be provided by Cedar through various beyond-financing initiatives.

“I am confident that the shared expertise between SME Bank and CDCi will not only integrate financial and technological aspects, but also create an ecosystem that fosters effective capability development.

“This will enable MSMEs to thrive in an ever-changing and competitive business environment,” said Mohammad Hardee.

Meanwhile, CDCi chief executive officer Putri Nurul Ida Yahya also expressed pleasure in seeing the establishment of the partnership, adding: “This collaboration seamlessly integrates SME Bank’s financial expertise with CDCi’s innovative SPEED digital procurement platform.

“Through SPEED, we are not just facilitating transactions, but transforming market accessibility by enabling MSMEs to establish direct connections with large-scale buyers across both public and private sectors.

“The initiative will accelerate business growth, enhance supply chain efficiency, and strengthen the competitive positioning of MSMEs in Malaysia’s evolving economic landscape.

“By merging CDCi’s digital solutions with SME Bank’s financial infrastructure, the partnership aims to unlock new growth opportunities, fostering a more competitive and technology-driven business environment.

“Together, we are confident that this partnership will make a lasting impact by enhancing financial accessibility, fostering innovation, and equipping entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly dynamic economy.”

To date, over 3,000 SMEs have benefited from SME Bank’s ELSA, a data-driven tool guiding SMEs through their developmental life cycles.

ELSA recently received recognition from the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) Awards 2025 under the Technology Development category.

Additionally, SME Bank’s ScoreXcess portal simplifies financing access by matching business needs with financing opportunities, while the ODELA platform revolutionises the B2B landscape through an informative e-commerce system.

-Agency