KUALA LUMPUR, 23 October 2025 – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and CIMB Bank Berhad (CIMB) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate high-value, sustainable investments in Malaysia, deepen industrial ecosystems, and reinforce the country’s position as a competitive investment destination.
Under the terms of the collaboration, the two organisations will introduce a suite of investment-focused programmes. These will include tailored financial solutions, cross-border advisory services, and sustainable financing frameworks designed to support technology adoption, strengthen supply chain resilience, and facilitate enterprise expansion.
CIMB will leverage its wholesale banking, commercial banking and transaction banking expertise to deliver end-to-end support for both foreign and domestic investors, targeting participation in high-impact sectors. The bank’s regional network will be used to help Malaysian companies scale into regional value chains and support their green transition and ESG objectives.
MIDA’s chief executive officer, Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, described the MoU as a decisive move to elevate Malaysia’s investment ecosystem: “By combining our investor relationships and sector expertise with CIMB’s financial connectivity and sustainability focus, we are broadening the channels for quality investments that empower Malaysian businesses and strengthen regional linkages.”
Meanwhile, CIMB Malaysia’s chief executive officer, Gurdip Singh Sidhu, highlighted the bank’s commitment to the government’s focus on securing high-quality and sustainable investment flows: “As a vital partner for trade and investment across ASEAN, CIMB is focused on positioning Malaysia as a premier destination for both foreign and domestic investments. Leveraging our regional network and financial expertise, we will accelerate cross-border connectivity and catalyse strategic investments that enhance the country’s long-term growth, resilience, and global competitiveness.”
Significance & Implications
This partnership is significant for several reasons:
- Sustainability & ESG integration: The MoU underlines the increasing importance of sustainable financing and ESG considerations in Malaysia’s investment strategy, CIMB has already set ambitious targets for such financing and a strong sustainability agenda.
- SME and value-chain uplift: By focusing on cross-border advisory and supply‐chain participation, the collaboration aims to enable Malaysian SMEs to integrate into higher-value regional value chains, thus enhancing competitiveness and resilience.
- Strategic role of Malaysia in ASEAN: With CIMB’s regional footprint and MIDA’s facilitation role, Malaysia aims to strengthen its position as a gateway for investment into Southeast Asia, while reinforcing its domestic industrial ecosystem.
- Alignment with national policy: The initiative dovetails with Malaysia’s broader investment and industrial strategies, including efforts to attract quality investment, support technology adoption, and promote sustainable growth, elements central to recent national frameworks.
Outlook
The success of this collaboration will depend on execution, especially in rolling out the investment-focused programmes, reaching target SMEs and investors, and converting support into real investment flows. For Malaysia, the MoU sets a clear signal: the country is actively pursuing sustainable, high-value, globally connected investment opportunities, not only for large players but also for SMEs across the industrial spectrum.
By leveraging the combined capabilities of MIDA and CIMB, Malaysia may be better positioned to attract investment that not only brings capital but also technology transfer, regional connectivity and long-term sustainable impact.
