KUALA LUMPUR: MBSB Bank has earmarked up to RM1 billion in financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the rail sector, under a strategic collaboration with the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC) to strengthen Malaysia’s rail industry ecosystem.
The bank said both parties will work together to support rail-related SMEs, technology providers and solution developers through structured financing approaches, industry engagement initiatives and capacity-building efforts. "Initial initiatives under the collaboration will include joint industry engagements, knowledge-sharing on commercial and environmental, social and governance (ESG) readiness, and the alignment of financing frameworks with innovation and sustainability benchmarks relevant to the rail sector," it said in a statement.
MBSB group chief strategy officer Datuk Azlan Shahrim said the objective of the collaboration is for MBSB Bank to work closely with MARIC to gain a deeper understanding of the real challenges faced by its members. "By engaging directly with industry players, we can better appreciate their pain points and develop financing solutions that are thoughtfully structured to address their specific needs,” he added.
MARIC president Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman said the partnership with the bank is an important step in strengthening Malaysia’s rail industry ecosystem.
"Many of our SMEs and technology players have strong capabilities, but they need the right financial support to grow and commercialise their solutions. By working together, we can help bridge the gap between innovation and market readiness, support local industry players, and build a more competitive and sustainable rail sector for Malaysia," he added.
Looking ahead, MBSB said both parties expect the collaboration to contribute to a more integrated and future-ready rail ecosystem, supporting SME competitiveness, accelerating commercialisation and reinforcing Malaysia’s position as an innovation-driven rail industry hub. - Bernama
