Last updated on October 11, 2025
26 August 2025, Kuala Lumpur — The Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank) has become the first Malaysian financial institution to secure membership in the Belt and Road Bankers Roundtable (BRBR) Working Group on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)—a milestone that furthers the nation’s integration within global trade-financing ecosystems.
A Leap Toward Regional Financial Integration
The announcement was made during the BRBR Inclusive Finance Practice Exchange and Sharing Meeting 2025, hosted at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s (ICBC) Shanghai Branch. This strategic inclusion positions EXIM Bank at the nexus of inclusive finance discourse among Belt and Road economies, a region increasingly seeking collaboration on SME empowerment and cross-border trade financing.
Dr. Liza Mydin, Chief Strategy Officer at EXIM Bank, highlighted the significance:
“This platform deepens our global financial collaboration and positions us to actively support Malaysian SMEs in expanding across borders, especially within the fast‑growing economies of the Belt and Road region.”
Aligning with National Development Goals
This move dovetails with Malaysia’s broader development agenda under the 13th Malaysia Plan and the National Industrial Masterplan 2030. Both frameworks aim to boost SMEs’ GDP contribution from 39.5% in 2024 to 50% by 2030, emphasizing the sector’s pivotal role in economic growth.
By joining the BRBR SME Working Group, EXIM Bank enhances Malaysia’s visibility and influence across 11 member economies within the Belt and Road network—underlining its role as a facilitator of export-led growth and SME internationalization.
Why This Matters
| Strategic Pillar | Implications for Stakeholders |
|---|---|
| Regional Expansion | Opens avenues for SMEs to access new markets within BRI economies |
| Policy Alignment | Reinforces government commitment to SME development and exports |
| Global Collaboration | Enhances Malaysia’s credibility in inclusive finance initiatives |
| Capacity Building | Likely to accelerate innovation in export‐financing products |
Broader BRBR Context
The Belt and Road Bankers Roundtable—originally launched by ICBC—acts as a global platform bridging banks, multilateral development institutions, and policymakers from BRI partner countries. It promotes best practices in financial innovation, risk management, and inclusive lending.
EXIM Bank’s joining of the SME Working Group signals a proactive shift toward embedding Malaysia’s financial sector into these global networks, potentially enabling tailored solutions like trade-ready financing, risk pooling, and cross-border lending instruments for local SMEs.
