—AZMAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The small and medium enterprise (SME) sentiment index rose to 55.8 in the second half of 2024 (2H24), up from 54.7 in 1H24, according to SME Bank Malaysia Bhd.
In a statement yesterday, the bank said this marks the third consecutive rise in the index and the highest score since its inception, reflecting growing confidence in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
SME Bank acting group president and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim attributed the upward trend to improving economic growth, robust sales expectations, and renewed expansion and job creation plans.
“This reaffirms MSMEs’ critical role in Malaysia’s economic trajectory, further strengthened by the government’s focus on fostering sustainable and inclusive growth, particularly in creating a positive outlook for MSMEs to continue thriving in an ever-changing and competitive business environment,” he said.
Mohammad Hardee added that, as one of Malaysia’s leading development financial institutions mandated to empower the MSME value chain, SME Bank would continue to provide value beyond financing.
“The resounding positive momentum recorded in the recent survey reinforces the importance of MSMEs, which significantly contribute to Malaysia’s overall growth trajectory,” he noted.
SME Bank chief economist Lynette Lee Li Qing said Malaysia’s economy grew by 5.2% in the first nine months of 2024, with sentiment aligned to a better gross domestic product growth for 2025. — Bernama
