SME Bank’s mandate of nurturing and developing SMEs are recognised internationally when it clinched two (2) awards at the 45^th Annual Meeting of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) held in Manila, Philipines from 26-27 October 2022 namely the Winner of the SME Development Category for its SME Bank XCESS programme and Trade Development Category for eCOACH DUBAI programme.

Group President/Chief Executive Officer SME Bank, Datuk Wira (Dr.) Aria Putera Ismail said, “SME Bank XCESS is the SME Bank’s flagship programme that fulfils its role as a Development Financial Institution (DFI) that not only provides financing but also implements various initiatives that go beyond financing and avenue for SMEs to source/match for high-value business network and connect with identified business financing providers. XCESS is positioned as the SME Bank’s key initiative in supporting the Malaysian Government's efforts to accelerate the recovery and development of the SME sector. A total of RM190 million in financing applications was received during the programme while 538 pitching sessions were conducted between the SMEs and the participating Anchor companies. Taking a hybrid approach of both virtual and physical presence, SME Bank XCESS 2021 was a breakthrough as our annual signature event since 2016 and attracted a total of 6161 participants in the one day programme.”

Datuk Wira Aria added, “Through the Dubai Expo 2020, SME Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, the Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research Sdn. Bhd. (CEDAR) was given the responsibility to train 19 companies with the target of achieving RM50 million worth of investment. The trade delegates surpassed the target and received RM100 million worth of investment following aggressive and continuous engagements that took place prior to the Dubai Expo 2020.”

The ADFIAP 45^th Annual Meeting theme for this year is “Responding to Global Issues and Trends: The Strategic Role of DFIs,”.  The theme was selected to highlight the need for the development financial institutions globally to help strategic, priority, and underserved areas of the economy with leadership, financial, and technical assistance. With changing demographics, markets, technologies, regulatory regimes, and pandemics, DFIs are more than ever at the forefront of managing challenges and creating opportunities.

ADFIAP is the focal point of all development banks and other financial institutions engaged in the financing of development in the Asia-Pacific region.  With its mission to advance sustainable development through its members, ADFIAP which was founded in 1976 has currently 90 member-institutions in 38 countries. ADFIAP is also a founding member of the World Federation of Development Financing Institutions composed of regional associations in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.  ADFIAP is an NGO in consultative status with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council.  The permanent Secretariat of ADFIAP is based in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.