Kuala lumpur: The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) and the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) have introduced the Smart Manufacturing scheme to facilitate greater access to capital and support the business growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mid-tier companies (MTCs) in strategic sectors.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative is part of the New Industrial Master Plan 2030's Strategic Co-Investment Fund (NIMP CoSIF). This new scheme introduces an enhanced co-investment ratio of 2:1, where the government contributes RM2 for every RM1 sourced from private investors, available until 2030.

The scheme targets eligible companies engaged in smart manufacturing transformation, focusing on automation, Industry 4.0 adoption, digitalisation, and other productivity-enhancing initiatives. Additionally, the existing NIMP CoSIF-to-private investment ratio for 'other sectors' has been temporarily adjusted from 1:2 to 1:1 until the end of 2027 to provide immediate financing support for SMEs and MTCs facing economic and market uncertainties.

This adjustment aims to accelerate capital deployment across all sectors and strengthen funding support for high-growth Malaysian SMEs and MTCs. The government will now contribute RM1 for every RM1 raised, aligning the co-investment ratio with that of the 'priority sectors' and 'new growth sectors' under NIMP 2030.

MITI and SC expressed confidence that this strategic intervention will help companies sustain growth, strengthen resilience, and continue scaling within NIMP sectors. The NIMP CoSIF is a public-private co-investment scheme, leveraging equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer financing platforms. As of end-June 2026, it has facilitated public-private fundraising totalling RM185 million for 40 Malaysian companies.