Bank Rakyat Uses Tokyo Bizmatch Platform To Boost Cross-border Opportunities
KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- Bank Rakyat is intensifying its efforts to help Malaysian companies expand abroad through its “Bank Rakyat Bizmatch: Make Malaysian Businesses Great” initiative, which was held alongside the Nikkei Forum of Asia 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
In a statement today, Bank Rakyat announced that the initiative aims to promote the growth and internationalisation of Malaysian businesses.
“The strategic business matching platform brings together seven participating Malaysian companies as well as business owners, industry leaders, investors and strategic partners from Japan and across Asia,” said the bank.
Also present at the event were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) Steven Sim Chee Keong, Bank Rakyat chairman Datuk Mohd Irwan Mohd Mubarak and its group chief executive officer, Ahmad Shahril Mohd Shariff.
The platform aims to foster international collaboration, facilitate market access and explore cross-border opportunities in high-growth sectors, said the bank.
“The Bank Rakyat Bizmatch initiative reflects the bank’s continued commitment to supporting the government’s policy to strengthen entrepreneurship development, expand international trade opportunities and accelerate the global competitiveness of local businesses.
“It is also in line with the aspirations of KUSKOP and advancing the ‘Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia’ agenda,” said Bank Rakyat.
Sim expressed optimism that Japanese businesses will view Malaysian tech start-ups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as strategic partners capable of joint innovation, rather than localised vendors.
“Through initiatives like today’s BizMatch, we are actively inviting our Japanese friends to embed themselves deeper into Malaysia's entrepreneurial landscape.
“It is also a timely effort that connects Malaysian entrepreneurs with potential Japanese partners, investors and buyers, while opening doors for knowledge exchange and long- term business cooperation,” he said.
Mohd Irwan said the platform empowers businesses of every size and stage of growth with greater access to networks, opportunities and markets beyond borders, while fostering inclusive economic progress and helping Malaysian enterprises realise full potential on the global stage.
“As global economic dynamics continue to evolve, resilience alone is no longer sufficient. Businesses today must become adaptive. They must become innovative.
“Most importantly, they must become internationally connected. This is where institutions like Bank Rakyat must step forward with greater purpose,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
