25 May 2022
This marks the fifth cohort since inception in 2020, supporting over 210 entrepreneurs to-date
Kuala Lumpur: CIMB Bank Berhad and CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad (collectively “CIMB” or “the Bank”) reinforce their commitment to supporting small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs within the B40 group through CIMB MicroBiz Ready programme. The fifth cohort saw a participation of 55 women entrepreneurs who successfully completed and graduated from the programme.
In collaboration with Taylor’s Community, alongside programme partners EasyStore and MesinKira, the year-long programme serves as an avenue to help micro-SMEs future-proof their businesses through coaching and mentoring sessions focusing on core success skills including financing, leveraging digitalisation, business strategy as well as emotional wellbeing. In addition, the programme also enables participants to build their networks for their end-to-end business and marketing initiatives, whilst having access to guidance and evaluation of their progress. This is also aligned with Bank Negara Malaysia’s value-based intermediation (“VBI”) initiative, of which CIMB Islamic is a strong proponent, and a founding member of the VBI Community of Practitioners.
In the span of three years since its rollout, over 210 participants have benefited from the programme, comprising general business owners, women entrepreneurs, Asnaf and the differently abled communities within Klang Valley. The latest cohort was recently celebrated in a virtual graduation ceremony, officiated by Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Islamic, as well as May Wong, Head of Group Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility, Taylor’s Education Group.
Ahmad Shahriman said, “SMEs are the key contributors to the growth of our economy, especially post the pandemic, as the economic recovery gains momentum. Echoing our aim to build a purpose-driven organisation, in line with CIMB Group’s Forward23+ business strategy, we are committed to continue empowering and upskilling micro-SMEs by providing them with opportunities to scale their businesses to achieve long-term sustainable growth. We are extremely pleased to see the growth and milestones achieved under the CIMB MicroBiz Ready programme since its inception in 2020. My heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates, and I would also like to thank our long-standing partner, Taylor’s Community for supporting our goal and commitment to CIMB MicroBiz Ready as we celebrate the success of the programme and its graduates.”
Winners for the women entrepreneurs’ cohort were given cash awards totalling RM6,000 along with EasyStore subscriptions worth RM21,000.
Grand prize winner, Maryline Judia Salang from MyMutiara Enterprise said, “It certainly came as a surprise when they announced I was the grand prize winner as my intention for participating in the programme was to upskill myself as a businesswoman and to learn from industry experts on how best to future-proof my business. Nevertheless, I wish to congratulate all the participants from this cohort, and I am extremely grateful to CIMB and Taylor’s Community for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a well-organised programme.”
Upon graduation from the programme, the micro-SMEs will also have access to CIMB’s HalalBizReady and GreenBizReady solutions when they convert to SME status. These two business solutions are offered by the Bank to support SMEs become halal-certified and green-certified as they grow and demonstrate interest in these areas.
In June, a new cohort will undergo similar training, focusing on the Asnaf community.
