SME Corp Malaysia has allocated RM1.5 million under its Next Level CEO Programme to strengthen the leadership and management skills of senior executives from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The programme aims to train 90 CEOs, managing directors and founders of high-growth and high-value MSMEs, helping them strengthen their businesses and contribute to Malaysia’s economic growth.
The initiative is part of the Programme for Enhancement of Strategic Industry and High Growth Enterprise 2.0 (Prestige 2.0) and focuses on improving leadership, strategic planning and business competitiveness.
SME Corp said the programme will equip MSME leaders with stronger strategic knowledge, leadership capabilities, innovative thinking and a broader global perspective. These skills are intended to help business leaders transform their organisations, improve productivity and compete more effectively in international markets.
Participants will also receive practical executive learning through a combination of training, coaching, mentoring and exposure to industry best practices.
To deliver the programme, SME Corp has appointed Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Sdn Bhd, ASB Management Sdn Bhd and Efficient Frontier Consulting Sdn Bhd as implementation partners.
The programme under Heriot-Watt University Malaysia was officially launched on Friday by SME Corp CEO Rizal Nainy, together with the university’s Provost and CEO, Prof Dr Mushtak Al-Atabi.
The appointed partners will be responsible for developing training modules, conducting leadership and coaching sessions, carrying out the SME Competitiveness Rating for Enhancement and monitoring the programme’s overall impact.
Rizal said the initiative represents a strategic investment in leadership development, as strong organisational transformation begins with business leaders who have the vision and ability to drive change.
He said Malaysia needs more MSMEs that can move beyond resilience and develop into high-value businesses capable of competing globally.
Through the programme, SME Corp hopes to develop more capable business leaders who can expand their companies, improve productivity, capture new opportunities and contribute to Malaysia’s wider economic development.
The ASB Management component of the programme is scheduled to launch in mid-August, while the programme with Efficient Frontier Consulting is expected to begin in September.
