SME Bank Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank) has once again been recognized with the prestigious Best Sustainability Sukuk Award for the SME category by The Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards 2024. This marks a repeat victory for the bank, having won the same accolade in The Asset’s 2023 edition.
Datuk Dr. Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, Acting Group President/Chief Executive Officer of SME Bank, said, “We are deeply honored to receive this award for the seventh time under the Sustainability Sukuk Wakalah Programme.
“This recognition reinforces our unwavering commitment to embedding sustainability as a core pillar of economic growth. From 2022 through August 2024, we have approved sustainable financing worth RM7.76 billion, underscoring our dedication to empowering SMEs and fostering sustainable development while contributing to Malaysia’s economic prosperity.”
SME Bank’s award-winning Sustainability Sukuk was issued in May 2023, marking the bank’s third AAA Sukuk issuance. The total order exceeded RM1.0 billion, more than double the initial target of RM500 million.
Priced competitively at a profit rate of 4.05%, the Sukuk garnered strong interest from investors. It also earned a top-tier AAA rating from the Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC), achieving Gold status under MARC’s Sustainability Sukuk Framework Assessment.
Zakiah Mat Esa, Chief Sustainability Officer of SME Bank, commented, “As a development financial institution focused on value creation for SMEs, we remain committed to supporting Malaysia’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Our Sustainability Sukuk Wakalah programme’s proceeds are dedicated to financing ESG-aligned projects, further highlighting SME Bank’s strong governance and commitment to sustainable practices in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s value-based intermediation framework.”
The successful issuance of the Sukuk was managed by leading financial institutions, including RHB Investment Bank Berhad, AmInvestment Bank Berhad, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad, and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad.
