PUTRAJAYA, 7 AUGUST 2026 – The programme will equip 90 CEOs, managing directors and founders of high-growth, high-value Malaysian SMEs with strategic leadership skills to scale their businesses and strengthen competitiveness
SME Corp. Malaysia has allocated RM1.5 million under its Next Level CEO Programme to support senior management of micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in taking their companies to the next level and increasing their contribution to the national economy, in line with Malaysia’s SME scaling agenda.
The programme, which targets 90 CEOs, managing directors and founders of high-growth, high-value SMEs, aims to strengthen leadership capacity and strategic capabilities. It is one of the components under the Strategic Industry and High-Performing SME Enhancement Programme (PRESTIGE) 2.0.
Strengthening SME Leadership and Strategic Capabilities
The Next Level CEO Programme has been developed to equip SME leaders with strategic knowledge, leadership skills, innovative thinking and a global perspective to drive organisational transformation, improve productivity and strengthen business competitiveness.
Participants will also gain executive learning experience through a combination of training sessions, tailored coaching, mentoring and exposure to industry best practices.
SME Corp. Malaysia has appointed three implementation partners to deliver the Next Level CEO Programme: Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., ASB Management Sdn. Bhd. and Efficient Frontier Consulting Sdn. Bhd.
The implementation partners are responsible for developing course modules, conducting training and coaching sessions, carrying out the SME Competitiveness Rating for Enhancement (SCORE) and monitoring the programme’s impact.
The programme under Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. was officially launched by YBrs. Encik Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy, Chief Executive Officer of SME Corp. Malaysia, at the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia campus in Putrajaya.
Building More Globally Competitive Malaysian SMEs
According to Rizal, Malaysia needs more SMEs that are not only resilient but also capable of growing into high-value companies that can compete on the global stage.
“Malaysia requires more SMEs that are not only resilient, but are also able to grow into high-value companies that compete at the global level. The Next Level CEO Programme is a strategic investment in leadership development because organisational transformation begins with leaders who have vision, the courage to drive change and the ability to explore new opportunities.”
He added that the programme is expected to produce more industry leaders capable of driving business growth, improving productivity and contributing to the country’s economic development.
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Leads First Programme Launch
Also present at the launch was YBrs. Prof. Dr. Mushtak Al-Atabi, Provost and Chief Executive Officer of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.
The Next Level CEO Programme will subsequently be launched with the other two implementation partners. The programme under ASB Management Sdn. Bhd. is scheduled to be launched in mid-August, while the programme under Efficient Frontier Consulting Sdn. Bhd. is scheduled for September 2026.
The initiative forms part of SME Corp. Malaysia’s broader efforts to strengthen the capabilities of Malaysian SMEs and support the scaling of high-growth, high-value businesses.
Through its focus on executive education, leadership development, strategic thinking and global exposure, the programme aims to help SME leaders navigate transformation, enhance productivity and build more competitive and sustainable businesses.
Supporting the Next Generation of High-Value SMEs
The RM1.5 million allocation underscores the importance of leadership development in helping Malaysian SMEs move beyond resilience towards sustained growth and higher value creation.
By strengthening the capabilities of CEOs, managing directors and founders, the Next Level CEO Programme seeks to create a stronger pipeline of SME leaders capable of driving innovation, expanding into new markets and contributing more significantly to Malaysia’s economic growth.
For more information about the Next Level CEO Programme, enquiries can be directed to [emailprotected] or through SME Corp. Malaysia’s official website and social media channels.
