The MOU was signed by Director of Domestic Investment Division , MIDA , Sukri Abu Bakar and BIMB Group Chief Business Officer , Retail , Mizan Masram ; and witnessed by MIDA Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ), Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman and BIMB Group Chief Executive Officer ( GCEO ), Mohd Muazzam Mohamed .

Also in attendance at the ceremony were MIDA Deputy CEO , Investment Promotion and Facilitation , Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja , and BIMB Head of SME Banking Division , Rizal

Mohd Yusof .

Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman expressed his appreciation for the collaboration in stimulating the local business environment and facilitating the nation ’ s economic recovery effort .

He stated : “ In response to the changing global business landscape , the government , through MIDA , not only strives to promote the development of industrial ecosystems , but also seeks to cross-collaborate with relevant and supportive partners to maintain our robust ecosystem , which allows companies , including small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ), to thrive .

“ The SMEs are vital to the Malaysian economy , contributing more than a third of gross domestic product ( GDP ) and providing job opportunities to more than four million workers in Malaysia .

“ Through this collaboration , MIDA hopes to leverage such opportunities to promote various fundraising facilities to empower and finance commercial

growth , profitable ideas and businesses , allowing entrepreneurs and business owners to raise capital from the public and private markets .”

Mohd Muazzam Mohamed , said : “ The Bank is honoured to be part of this endeavour through our comprehensive Shariah-compliant product offerings . It will allow foreign SME investors to venture and fortify their market presence in Malaysia , contributing to its economic recovery post-Covid-19 pandemic . This partnership between MIDA and BIMB would provide a platform to over 3,000 SME customers within our portfolio the access and opportunity they need to expand their offerings to markets beyond our shores .

“ The collaboration also explores other opportunities to be part of the Domestic Investment Strategic Fund ( DISF ) and other grants provided by MIDA . Apart from giving customised financing package deals for new and existing foreign SME investors , we also include financial

( From left ) Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja , Sukri Abu Bakar , Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman , Mohd Muazzam Mohamed , Mizan Masram and Rizal Mohd Yusof .

guidance and accessibility through our SMEXpert mobile application . Clients can easily use this digital marketing platform for advertising their events and other apps ’ resources , products , and services .”

The MOU with Bank Islam demonstrates MIDA ’ s ongoing commitment to pursuing high technology , value-added , and innovative investment projects from domestic and foreign companies .

The partnership is seen as timely to provide adequate financial support to industry players , particularly domestic investors , in expanding the government ’ s efforts to facilitate investments in Malaysia , which is consistent with the National Investment Aspirations ( NIA ) framework in driving economic growth .

AGROBANK is offering protection of takaful package worth RM10 million in conjunction with International Women ’ s Day 2022 celebrated on March 8 to empower women agropreneurs from the micro-business category on the importance of self-care and protection while taking up the responsibility towards their family , economically and socially .

Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin , President / CEO of Agrobank , said the campaign , known as “ Kempen Promosi AgroNita ”, focused on women micro agropreneurs in the agriculture and food-based businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the impacts of the movement control order ( MCO ) in 2020-2021 .

“ The wellbeing of our agropreneurs and their families is equally important to us , with the current pandemic situation . It has been a challenge for entrepreneurs to ensure business sustainability , especially for women agropreneurs under the micro category . Besides their businesses , women are also responsible to ensure their family matters are well taken care of regardless of the situation ,” said Tengku Ahmad .

“ We have continuously

supported our women agropreneurs in many ways through our various products and initiatives such as AgroMumtaz and Agro Farah-i that we launched during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 . This year , we take a step forward to encourage them to prioritise self-care and protection for their loved ones .”

‘ Kempen Promosi AgroNita ’ is an initiative by the bank to showcase appreciation to its customers by providing them with a one-year free coverage of takaful protection under the Takaful Kasih Plus plan to the first 1,000 women customers

from micro category of Agrobank with total PA worth RM10 million ( RM10,000 each ).

This campaign is open to women micro entrepreneurs with financing facility under the micro finance portfolioutilising special funds from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry ( MAFI ), Bank Negara Malaysia ( BNM ) or any other government agencies for economic recovery . Campaign period began on March 1 , 2022 for the first 1,000 women micro agropreneurs customers of Agrobank .

Tengku Ahmad said this campaign aimed to empower women agropreneurs from the micro category to stand on their own feet and be a woman of substance without abandoning asserting for self-care and protection .

“ Our mandate to educate micro business owners in the agriculture sector , especially the unserved and underserved communities , continues through our wide range of products and services . Today through this campaign , in line with the International Women ’ s Day , we take this opportunity to offer something that will benefit them and their family for a lifetime ,” he added .

AN ongoing Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) between the Malaysian Takaful Association ( MTA ) and Universiti Teknologi MARA ( UiTM ) encourages graduates to explore a career in takaful by offering graduates exemption from taking the “ Takaful Basic Examination ” ( TBE ).

The TBE is a compulsory entry qualification for those who intend to be registered takaful agents . The MoU automatically qualifies a graduate of UiTM ’ s Diploma in Actuarial Science , Bachelor of Science ( Hons ) Actuarial Science and Master of Islamic Banking and Finance to become a registered takaful agent and explore a wide range of career opportunities in the Takaful industry .

MTA ’ s CEO , Mohd Radzuan Mohamed stated that the continuation of this collaboration in 2022 would support the academic and career development of the students , thus creating more robust graduates for

the future .

The MoU also opens the critical opportunity for internships , attachment programmes or practical training at MTA and its member companies for undergraduate and postgraduate students .

He added that MTA had identified activities under the MoU that align with the underpinning thrusts and aims of the Malaysian takaful industry ’ s Value-based Intermediation for Takaful ( VBIT ) initiative to create positive values and sustainable impact for society .

Both parties also agreed to encourage takaful protection among UiTM students . This will be a combined effort to educate students on the importance of Takaful protection as a tool for managing life risks .