a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
CelcomDigi onboards first 100 SMEs, partners to vendor empowerment initiative
KUALA LUMPUR: CelcomDigi Bhd has onboarded nearly 100 Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and exclusive sales partners from over 60 companies into the first cohort of its newly-launched Vendor Empowerment and Excellence Programme (VEEP).
The first phase of the programme began with a focus on building ESG fundamentals using the Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG) for SMEs in supply chains, in collaboration with Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM).
The guide provides participating SMEs with practical tools to integrate responsible practices, as well as to measure and disclose their environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact in line with Bursa Malaysia's expectations for ESG-compliant corporate ecosystems.
Delivering the closing address on behalf of CelcomDigi chief executive officer Datuk Idham Nawawi, chief corporate affairs officer Joachim Rajaram said the initiative marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to support local businesses.
"SMEs form over 97 per cent of Malaysia's business landscape and are projected to deliver 45 per cent of the country's GDP this year, making them a driving force of our economy."
"Supporting their growth is a strategic priority for us as part of our ESG commitment to build a sustainable value chain," said Rajaram.
"With Malaysian companies making up over 72 per cent of our value chain, we see a clear opportunity to empower Malaysia's business landscape by starting within our own ecosystem," he added.
He noted that VEEP is CelcomDigi's long-term commitment to uplift SMEs through structured support and strategic collaboration.
"Today's partnership with CMM lays the groundwork for responsible business practices."
"We aim to build a comprehensive programme that supports the growth and sustainability of SMEs, not just through ESG adoption but also via cross-sector collaboration to expand access to business opportunities, funding channels and technological advancements," he said.
Rajaram also highlighted the broader goals of the programme which is to help SMEs professionalise their operations, strengthen responsible business practices and ultimately, position themselves to compete in both domestic and global markets.
