SME Bank-UMK collab to boost MSME industry
Published on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
By: Mohd Izham Bin Hashim
Wira (2nd from right) with Razli (2nd left) at the MOU signing between SME Bank and UMK.
Kuala Lumpur: SME Bank has taken the lead in empowering local entrepreneurs through a ground-breaking Lifelong Learning initiative in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK).
“We recognize the paramount importance of education and collaboration in nurturing the growth of Malaysia’s Micro, Small and Medium Enerprises (MSMEs),” said President/ Chief Executive Officer of Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia(SME Bank), Datuk Dr Aria Putera Ismail.
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He highlighted the formalisation of partnership with the University, marked by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), underscored a shared commitment to fostering entrepreneurship within Malaysia’s MSMEs sector.
This MoU signifies our endeavour to leverage the academic expertise and resources of UMK to provide tailored solutions that align with the evolving needs of SMEs.”
He elaborated, “Supported by the invaluable expertise of CEDAR, our wholly-owned subsidiary, which has successfully trained over 80,000 program participants, we are confident that this collaboration will significantly propel entrepreneurship development forward.”
Echoing Wira’s views, UMK Vice Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Razli Che Razak said the collaboration will bolster UMK’s role as a leading education partner in entrepreneurship.
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“This partnership is a testament to our dedication towards nurturing a conducive ecosystem for SMEs to thrive,” he said.
He affirmed the university’s commitment to entrepreneurship and enterprise studies, noting UMK is focused on its role to empower future business leaders.
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“By joining forces with SME Bank, we aim to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate the dynamic business landscape effectively. said Dr Razli.
“We are proud to announce our fourth collaboration with a local university. Our previous partnerships with UiTM, UniSZA, and UUM reflect our unwavering commitment to empowering and fostering economic growth. This underscores our dedication to merging knowledge, education, and innovation with the business landscape, in line with SME Bank’s primary mandate as a Development Financial Institution (DFI),” added Wira.
Under the MoU, both parties will collaborate on a comprehensive range of activities, including post-graduate and executive education programmes, collaborative research and development opportunities, utilisation of laboratory facilities, industrial attachment programmes, internship programmes, entrepreneurship development, and financing assistance.
The MoU between SME Bank and UMK was signed by SME Bank Group President/Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Wira (Dr.) Aria Putera Ismail and UMK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Razli bin Che Razak in the presence of SME Bank Group Chief Corporate Strategy Officer, Datuk Dr. Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International), Prof. Dato’ Dr. Nik Maheran binti Nik Muhammad.
SME Bank embraces strategic collaborations, cultivating initiatives from the grassroots level, reaffirming its dedication to empowering MSMEs and fostering economic prosperity of the nation.
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