KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- For the twelfth consecutive year, Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (“SME Bank”) has been honoured with multiple prestigious awards by the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (“ADFIAP”) at the 2025 Sustainable Development Awards, alongside marking the Bank’s inaugural win at the Marketing-Interactive Public Relations Awards 2025. These awards highlight SME Bank’s commitment to excellence by inspiring more SMEs to embrace innovation and drive transformation, in addition to highlighting their success stories, cementing the Bank’s reputation as one of the country’s leading development financial institutions (“DFIs”).
SME Bank Acting Group President/Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Dr. Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, “We are truly honoured to receive these prestigious recognitions as they reflect our steadfast commitment to supporting the growth and sustainability of Malaysian SMEs. We take pride in carrying a national mandate that goes beyond financing. These accolades underscore our pivotal role in shaping a resilient and inclusive SME ecosystem, one that is aligned with national development goals and responsive to the evolving needs of local entrepreneurs. By promoting sustainability through innovation, we are not only reinforcing our commitment to setting new benchmarks of excellence but also championing business practices that drive positive socio-economic impact, ensuring long-term environmental and economic well-being.
ADFIAP 2025 Sustainable Development Awards: Empowering SMEs for a Resilient FutureSME Bank has received recognition from ADFIAP – where the Bank emerged as winner under the SME Development Category for the SME Bank’s Sandbox Swiss Innovation Challenge 2024 and SME Bank’s Enterprise Lifecycle Scoring Assessment (“ELSA”) under the Technology Development Category. In addition, the Bank was also recognised with the MERIT Awards for its Graduate Talent Programme (“GTP”) under the Human Capital Development Category, together with SME Bank’s Sustainability Roadmap Journey under the Environmental Development Category.
Marketing-Interactive Public Relations Awards 2025: Strengthening the SME EcosystemSME Bank has been honoured with the Best PR Campaign - Start-Up/Small Business award at the Marketing-Interactive Public Relations Awards 2025 for its pioneering podcast initiative, ‘We Hear You’. Designed as a platform to support Malaysia’s growing MSMEs, the ‘We Hear You’ podcast provides industry insights, expert advice, and real-world success stories aimed at helping entrepreneurs thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape. In just three months since its inception in October 2024, the podcast has garnered over 3.9 million views, demonstrating its strong appeal and demand for resources that empower business owners. Through the podcast, SME Bank reaffirms its dedication to driving business excellence and sustainability, offering more than just financial support, but a comprehensive ecosystem of knowledge, guidance, and mentorship that enables MSMEs to scale and remain competitive.
The ADFIAP 2025 Awards Ceremony took place in Muscat, Oman, alongside the organisation's 48th Annual Meetings. Representing SME Bank were Dato' Muslim Hussain, Non-Executive Chairman, and Group CFO Samad Majid Zain Abdul Majid. This year’s event, themed “Economic Gardening and Development Impact,” focused on empowering businesses, fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems, aligning finance with development goals, enhancing economic resilience, measuring impact, and advancing green finance and sustainability.
Meanwhile, the Marketing-Interactive Public Relations Awards 2025 recognised outstanding campaigns and achievements across the region but also served as a platform to spotlight the evolving landscape of public relations and communications. The awards highlighted innovative strategies, powerful storytelling, and measurable results, showcasing PR’s critical role in shaping brand identity, driving engagement, and influencing public perception.
To learn more about SME Bank’s comprehensive range of products and services, and to tune in to the ‘We Hear You’ podcast featuring real stories and insights for entrepreneurs, visit
https://linktr.ee/WeHearYoubySMEBank.
The 4
th edition of the Swiss Innovation Challenge (“SIC”) Malaysia is open for submission and interested SMEs can submit their application by visiting
swissic.dhuautomotive.edu.my/home. The SIC is a launchpad for bold ideas, sparking innovation between Switzerland and ASEAN. It opens doors for companies, startups, and visionary individuals by offering hands-on training, inspiring mentorship, and powerful networking—fuelling the next wave of groundbreaking products, services, and business breakthroughs.
Issued by:SME Bank Group Strategic CommunicationPlease click here for attachments:250429 SME Bank Bags Prestigious Awards - Google DriveSOURCE : Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank)FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Name: Arnee Ismail
Head, Group Strategic Communication
SME Bank
Tel: 03-2615 2954
Email: arnee.ismail@smebank.com.my --BERNAMA