In developing Asia, SMEs account for a majority of business establishments, positively contributing to critical employment, total exports, and a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) higher than the respective economies.
The SMEs and MSMEs are also critical in increasing the incomes and income potential of the bottom 40 percent of the world’s population. From sustainability perspective, SMEs and MSMEs form the critical base in the supply chains of large companies and may (collectively) produce more pollution than big businesses. Similarly, a significant SMEs are women-controlled and championed by young aspiring entrepreneurs, who have limited access to resources, unfair and inequitable business policies and culture, low capacity and appetite for learning and growth.
The SME Inclusion Programme includes sustainability orientation, micro-financing / sustainable financing (WIP), and access to free and fair knowledge resources.
Our SME Inclusion Programme therefore addresses the top three issues facing small businesses and entrepreneurs today:
- Low awareness of and application of sustainability principles to the social, economic, and technical realities of small and micro businesses.
- Poor knowledge of the negative impacts and competitive disadvantages of sustainability issues inherent in small and micro businesses.
- Lack of foresight on the future of business landscape and opportunities shaped by various sustainability risks.
Under CIMB Group’s GreenBizReady initiative, we are committed to design and deliver a tailor-made sustainability programme to help SMEs future-proof their business.
Companies who are on a mission to support SMEs in their supply / value chain to embrace responsible/ sustainable business practices are welcome to express your interest to support our existing initiative.
Additionally, if you would like to strategise or design new SME Inclusion Programme elements based on your sector and business priorities, kindly contact us at impacto@impacto.my
