KUALA LUMPUR: SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp) is targeting six micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) companies to be listed on the LEAP Market by 2026.

Chief executive officer Rizal Nainy said the target was set as a result of the collaboration between SME Corp and the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) to increase access to capital market financing for MSMEs.

"We will provide a further 500 MSMEs on our dashboard to develop the market insight as well as the data from the MSMEs. We expect the desired outcome of about 200 to be market-ready by 2026.

"The ultimate goal is for them to go for listing on Bursa Malaysia and be listed by 2026," he said after the launch of the SC roadmap "Catalysing MSME and MTC Access to the Capital Market: Five-Year Roadmap (2024-2028)" today.

SME Corp has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with SC in September 2023 to pave the way for joint cooperation in providing MSME channels that are ready to face the capital market as well as increasing their awareness, sustainability readiness and corporate governance.

"With that, we collaborate with the SC to hold several capacity programmes in the capital market. The same goes for preparing for them in business and hospitality practices," he said.

Commenting on the roadmap launched by the SC today, Rizal said the MSMEs have the opportunity to gain knowledge about the capital market and it is important to empower MSMEs through capital market solutions.

The roadmap aims to provide a five-year action plan with a cross-cutting strategy in transforming the capital market to increase access to MSMEs (including business startups) and MTCs.

Through the plan, the SC aims to expand fundraising in the MSME and MTC capital markets sevenfold to RM40 billion by 2028.

 - Bernama