ESG Jumpstart for SMEs Portal: A One Stop Platform for SMEs to Jumpstart their ESG Journey

SMEs form the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, accounting for 97.2% of total business establishments, generating 38.2% of GDP and providing employment for 7.3 million people (OECD, 2022). With climate change making a profound impact to the planet, people and profit, more businesses, including SMEs are now being subjected to ESG requirements imposed by customers, lenders, investors, local communities and regulators alike.

As such, SMEs who transition towards sustainable practices can better mitigate risks, potentially improve their competitiveness (e.g. by attracting larger/multi-national companies who are increasingly prioritizing ESG in their supply chains or expanding to new/wider export markets) and achieve operational efficiency (e.g. by lowering operational cost from energy efficiency and adopting circular economy models).

Ultimately, SMEs who are most adept at re-inventing themselves, balancing long-term growth with environmental & social responsibility can emerge as winners in the new economy.

As part of the financial industry’s efforts to support SMEs to transition to greener and more sustainable practices, the JC3 SME Focus Group (SFG) that is co-Chaired by UOB Malaysia and BNM, has developed a dedicated ESG Jumpstart for SMEs Information Portal.

The Portal serves as a gateway for SMEs to obtain useful information to jumpstart their sustainability journey. These include capacity building programs, green certifications, financial & incentive schemes, and other practical tools offered by the financial industry, government agencies, and other relevant organisations.

To access the ESG Jumpstart for SMEs Information Portal, please click on the following url:

https://www.jc3malaysia.com/esg-jumpstart-for-smes

“Start small, Start now and Do your part”

JC3 - Joint Committee on Climate Change