KUALA LUMPUR: 11 September 2023 – Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank), the lead implementing agency for the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development’s (MECD) pavilion, will be bringing in 24 SMEs to showcase their products and services alongside MECD’s agencies at the Malaysia International Halal Exhibition (MIHAS) 2023 on 12-15 September 2023 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Center (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur.

Datuk Wira (Dr.) Aria Putera Ismail, SME Bank Group President/Chief Executive Officer in a statement said, “Twelve (12) of the featured exhibitors are the participants of the Business Export Program (BEP), an initiative administered by the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MECD), with SME Bank entrusted to manage funds totalling RM11.5 million to implement the BEP. It is noteworthy that since their enrolment in the BEP, and up until December 2022, all of the Program's participants have achieved commendable success, collectively generating export sales of RM123.40 million.”

Participating in MIHAS is part of the Export Acceleration Mission (EAM) initiatives under the BEP to facilitate their readiness to venture into the global halal market. This will be the best avenue for them to reach out to potential partners and investors. BEP provides various opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their business and equip them with comprehensive entrepreneurial knowledge through various programs and modules available.

For 2023, SME Bank, together with 30 SMEs had participated in three EAMs including the upcoming EAM scheduled to be held in Japan in conjunction with Malaysia Fair, Tokyo 2023. These collective efforts will further bolster the Government's Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 to reach a total Halal export value of RM63.1 billion by 2025.

SME Bank has actively participated in MIHAS since 2013, with the 19th edition focusing on promoting sustainability and innovation in the Halal industry, both locally and internationally. For the forthcoming event, the MECD Pavilion is scheduled to be prominently located within Halls 3 and 4, at Level 1 of the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

For more information about SME Bank, please visit www.smebank.com.my or SME Bank's social media platform or contact the Customer Service Center at 03-2603 7700.