SME Bank Malaysia Bhd's business export programme (BEP) has generated over RM74 million in incremental export sales as of Aug 31, 2024, with 65 per cent of the companies entering new export markets. In a statement today, SME Bank said the programme, launched in 2020 in collaboration with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation and funded by the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry has onboarded 84 companies, with 48 having recently graduated. The bank highlighted that the structured intervention programme supports Malaysian companies to explore export opportunities in the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, China, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States via more than 15 export acceleration missions. SME Bank acting group president/chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim noted that BEP was showcased at the Malaysia International Halal Exhibition 2024. It is one of the bank's key initiatives to support small and medium enterprises (SME s) within the growing halal industry. Other key initiatives include SME Bank Umbrella Programme, HalalBiz Financing, and the Capacity and Capability Development Programme. 'These initiatives align with the national goal to position Malaysia as a leader in the halal economy, particularly, HalalBiz Financing as we are one of the financial institutions mandated in National Budget 2024 to mobilise this programme in support of the growth of halal exports,' he said. SME Bank is also entrusted with managing various programmes to boost SMEs in the halal sector. These include the Halal Innovation and Technology Programme, Halal Entrepreneur Internationalisation Programme, Capacity Building Programme for Halal Industry Entrepreneurs and the Halal Product Capacity Development Programme, with accumulative grant allocations of about RM8.5 million within 2023-2024. 'SME Bank has always played a catalytic role in SME growth as they are the backbone of the country's (economy), making up a huge portion of businesses toda y. "Through our affirmative financing and capacity-building initiatives, we take pride in being the conduit and the driving force to help them realise their aspirations," Mohammad Hardee added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency