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SHAH ALAM – Malaysian businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are being encouraged to strengthen their digital capabilities, explore regional opportunities and adopt more resilient business strategies as geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global trade.
The call came during the Northern Region Investment Seminar 2026, jointly organised by Hong Leong Bank (HLB), HLB Islamic and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
The seminar formed part of HLB’s efforts to engage directly with SMEs and business owners, providing practical advice and financial solutions to help them manage challenges arising from international market volatility.
HLB Islamic chief executive officer Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi said the bank wanted to play a more active role in helping businesses turn regional opportunities into sustainable growth.
“At HLB, we are committed to being genuine, value-adding business partners to our customers and this includes actively reaching out to entrepreneurs and providing tailored solutions within their own ecosystems.
“We want to ensure that businesses, especially emerging SMEs looking to scale, have direct access to the insights, capital and tailored guidance necessary to turn regional potential into sustainable growth, especially in times of geopolitical tension,” she said.
Dafinah said businesses would need to pay attention to four major structural trends, namely artificial intelligence (AI), environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements, Asean connectivity and the growing global Halal economy.
“Supporting our business customers through these economic changes will mean focusing on four structural trends.
“This includes supporting AI integration, adopting ESG frameworks that meet global supply chain standards, leveraging regional Asean connectivity and utilising purpose-driven finance to unlock opportunities in the rapidly expanding global Halal economy,” she said.
The focus on Penang came as the state accounted for 38.1 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports last year, making it the country’s largest exporting state, while attracting RM4.9 billion in manufacturing investments in the first quarter of 2026.
With Bank Negara Malaysia projecting national gross domestic product growth of between 4.0 and 5.0 per cent this year, the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) is also seen as having an important role in sustaining domestic economic momentum.
The seminar was officiated by Penang Trade and Community Unity Exco Goh Choon Aik and brought together speakers from HLB and MIDA alongside CGC Digital, Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), NL Group of Companies, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Penang, Teraju and SME Corp Penang.
Sessions covered practical areas including global market developments, foreign exchange, digital adoption, tax incentives and financial facilitation, giving business owners insights into managing costs, improving operations and exploring new markets.
The initiative also reflected HLB’s broader approach of engaging businesses within key industrial centres, particularly as companies navigate supply chain disruptions and changing international trade conditions.
By bringing financial and business advisory closer to regional entrepreneurs, the seminar aimed to help SMEs make more informed decisions and strengthen their ability to compete in an increasingly interconnected market.