
Image credit: Bernama
SINGAPORE, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) is hopeful that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be appropriately supported to better prepare them for export and enter new markets, as part of its Budget 2026 wishlist.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said that, given the current geopolitical uncertainties, industries and companies require policies that help them navigate the evolving global environment.
“Big companies can have the funding to gain market access, but SMEs and the supply chains supporting them, for example, need some support to enable participation in expos,” he told Bernama after attending the Bursa Malaysia Invest Malaysia session at the Macquarie 16th ASEAN Conference here.
The minister added that MITI is also looking to support Malaysian companies in deepening their linkages within industrial ecosystems and increasing their level of sophistication in response to the complex geoeconomic and geopolitical backdrop.
“Their fundamentals have to be strong.
They must invest in artificial intelligence (AI), be more productive, attract better talent, and strengthen their research and development (R&D) and innovation systems.
“All of this is necessary to enhance the capabilities of our companies -- our SMEs and our large local firms -- especially in the semiconductor sector,” he said.
In his keynote address, Tengku Zafrul said he believed that Budget 2026, to be tabled in October, will support national priorities already set out in key policy frameworks.
These include MITI’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the National Semiconductor Strategy, the National Energy Transition Roadmap, and the Green Investment Strategy.
He said industry players can expect incentives that reward green compliance and productivity, as well as strengthened export enablers for SMEs in the form of financing, insurance, and adherence to international standards.
The budget is also expected to prioritise technology adoption, particularly in AI and automation within the manufacturing sector.
“Our guiding principle remains clear: fiscal discipline with a tilt towards targeted, high-growth, high-value industries,” he added.
Source: https://www.bernama.com/tv/news.php?id=2457999