Last updated on October 11, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR – As Malaysia embarks on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour has emphasised the need for the financial sector to play a transformative role in empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in strategic growth industries.
These sectors include high-potential frontier fields such as semiconductors, aerospace, renewable energy, data centres, and carbon capture technologies.
Speaking at the CGC 30th Edition Award 2024 on Thursday, Abdul Rasheed highlighted the importance of aligning financial support with national policy frameworks like the New Industrial Master Plan and the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
He stressed that the financial sector, including Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd (CGC), must evolve to support these national priorities. “CGC, alongside the broader financial system, must be part of this developmental roadmap,” he said.
To enable SME participation in capital-intensive and tech-driven industries, Abdul Rasheed called for targeted mechanisms to mobilise private capital, manage innovation risks, and create meaningful entry points for smaller firms.
He also underscored the role of structured programmes and technical support in bridging information gaps, helping SMEs to transform and boosting financiers’ confidence in backing them.
A second priority, he said, is to drive SME growth through data-driven strategies. He cited CGC’s move towards analytics and data-centric decision-making as a positive step.
He added that efforts must also focus on expanding financing access — not just for newcomers but also for growth-stage businesses — while increasing investment in sustainable financing, including green and Islamic finance. Strengthening ecosystem partnerships that merge traditional finance with fintech and socio-economic tools is also key, he noted.
