Recognising the pivotal role SMEs play as economic drivers and their collective impact on the environment, the RHB Banking Group (RHB), in partnership with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), today kicked off the first of its nationwide engagement sessions themed “Empowering Change: Charting a Sustainable Energy Future for Business Growth” to support and advance SMEs towards a future of sustainable competitiveness and success.
The engagement session by RHB and TNB, which was attended by more than 200 SME clients, was exclusively curated to guide and empower them through the complexities of energy transition. Through the session, SME participants gained valuable technical knowledge on energy-efficient technology and solutions and products and services that can help reduce energy consumption and cost.
RHB also shared various financing solutions available to SMEs and retail customers who are looking to invest in energy efficiency and sustainable practices.
“These engagement session underscores RHB’s commitment to nurturing and supporting the SMEs in navigating the complexities and the increasing importance of sustainable practices. As our nation move towards greener practices, SMEs are at the forefront of this transition. The objective for these engagement sessions is to bridge the knowledge and resource gap SMEs often face in this area,” said Mohd Rashid Mohamad, Group Managing Director/Group Chief Executive Officer of RHB Banking Group.
“In August this year, our Prime Minister unveiled the expanded National Energy Transition Roadmap (‘NETR’), which outlines Malaysia’s Responsible Transition Pathway towards Net Zero, with ten flagship catalyst projects covering six energy transition levers. Public and private partnerships, particularly financial institutions, will be critical in funding and supporting these proposed projects.
“Facilitating SMEs’ transition to greener practices will support the nation’s ambition under NETR towards fostering sustainable development and creating a resilient economy and financial system for a clean and low-carbon future. RHB is committed to nurturing and supporting our SME customers in their journey to low-carbon practices.”
“SMEs form the bedrock of Malaysia’s economy, sustaining communities and individual livelihoods. Amidst dynamic business environments, SMEs aren’t just adapting; they are evolving to excel. To fortify their agility and resilience, transformation is necessary with collaborative backing from partners like financial institutions, governments, and energy solution providers.
“This spans financial aid, advisory services, sustainable energy solutions, innovative digital advancements, and diverse assistance programs. TNB is committed to empowering SMEs on their sustainability journey through holistic energy solutions, paving the way for their continual growth and business resilience. Through GSPARX, TNBES, TNBX, and Tenaga Switchgear, we offer diverse green energy solutions, spanning from solar installations to EV charging.
“Through our collaboration with RHB, we aim to amplify this impact – going beyond providing energy solutions, we also aim to foster their growth, strengthen their resilience, and pave a definitive path towards a sustainable future,” said Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin, Chief Operations Officer of Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
While the inaugural engagement session targets SMEs within the Klang Valley, RHB aims to expand its impact across the nation with subsequent sessions planned for the Northern and Southern regions, and other parts of Malaysia, including Sabah, Sarawak, and the East Coast. Through these sessions, more SMEs nationwide will benefit from TNB’s expertise in providing technical advice on energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, which including installing Solar PV systems.
In addition, SMEs will gain access to RHB’s suite of Green Financing Solutions comprising SME Green Renewable Energy Financing, SME Green Construction Financing, SME Green Commercial Property Financing, SME Green Working Capital Financing and SME Green Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Financing.
As of September 2023, RHB has approved over RM985 million in SME Sustainable Financing, of which approximately RM191 million was Bank Negara Malaysia’s Low-Carbon Transition Facility (LCTF). The Group has also achieved over RM19 billion in Sustainable Financial Services, equivalent to over 90% of its 2026’s RM20 billion target.
RHB offers a comprehensive suite of Sustainable Financial Services covering Green, Social and ESG-linked products and services for retail and non-retail clients ranging from personal financing for solar panels, EV financing of eco-friendly cars at competitive rates with complimentary one-year ChargEV membership, and Sustainable Financing Programme for SMEs.
For more information on RHB’s Green Financing Solutions, please visit https://www.rhbgroup.com/greenfinancing/index.html.