kuala lumpur: Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM) is accelerating the growth of Malaysia’s capital market through strategic initiatives such as the Elevate programme, which aims to propel mid-market companies and high-performing SMEs to new heights.
Highlighting the organisation’s core mission and focus areas at a press conference on Friday, CMM general manager Navina Balasingham said: “Established by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) 10 years ago, CMM’s primary mission is to position and characterise Malaysia’s capital market to attract international investment.”
According to Navina, a key focus of CMM’s strategy is to promote sustainable and responsible investment, and CMM is actively promoting these goals through its Malaysian Sustainable Finance Initiative and the Centre for Sustainable Enterprise.
“These initiatives are dedicated to capacity building, knowledge sharing and supporting companies and investors in adopting environmental, social and governance practices,” she said.
Navina said Elevate, a linchpin of CMM’s efforts, is funded by the Capital Markets Development Fund and serves as a key initiative to drive business growth.
“This four-month program is targeted at founders and C-level executives of MTC and high-performing SMEs, providing intensive training and support to scale their businesses through mergers and acquisitions or entry into new markets.”
Navina said she recognises the challenges businesses face in reaching the next level and that CMM is committed to providing them with the support and resources they need. “The Elevate programme is tailored to provide businesses with access to the critical assistance and funding opportunities they need to succeed,” she added.
Navina cited success stories from the programme, such as Social Media Network, which went from a small market presence to being listed on Bursa Malaysia’s main market after completing Elevate. “These achievements underscore our commitment to supporting the growth of Malaysia’s corporate sector and the development of a robust capital market,” Navina said.
The programme was designed by CMM, with SC and Bursa Malaysia as strategic partners, to enable SMEs and MTCs to enhance the competencies and skills required to meet the specific nuances of raising capital in the capital markets through initial public offerings and private equity investments.
Navina said SMEs and MSMEs are vital to the economy and it is a priority for CMM to facilitate accessible pathways to financing that are essential for these businesses to scale up.
“Through this platform, we hope to support companies as they prepare for their next phase of growth. This initiative will be crucial in creating a vibrant and dynamic pipeline of companies heading for listings and private equity investments, while positioning Malaysia’s capital market as an attractive destination for both fundraising and investment,” she added.
CMM finished the first cohort of its 2024 Elevate program on Friday.
