Maybank has announced the first multi-market Small & Medium Entreprises (SME) upskilling & digitalisation collaboration between a financial institution and TikTok Shop in the ASEAN region. This programme is designed to equip SMEs with the knowledge, insights, skills, and tools to go beyond brick-and-mortar models and ultimately scale and future-proof their businesses.
Syed Ahmad Taufik Albar, Group CEO of Community Financial Services, Maybank (left), and Siew Mun Wei, Country Head of Merchant Ecosystem Development, TikTok Shop Malaysia (right) at the signing ceremony for the collaboration held in Menara Maybank on 20 March 2025.
Syed Ahmad Taufik Albar, Group CEO, Community Financial Services, Maybank, said that this collaboration is a reflection of Maybank’s commitment to champion SMEs in line with its M25+ strategy of purpose driven banking and beyond banking social impact programmes. Participants in this programme will gain valuable first-hand experience in leveraging content-driven e-commerce, digitalisation solutions, and optimised account management techniques.
The ASEAN SME Upskilling & Digitalisation Programme will start with a pilot phase in Malaysia, covering three main activities: a webinar, workshop, and an accelerator plan. Participants in the accelerator programme will gain access to dedicated mentoring and coaching from both TikTok Shop and Maybank over six months, with personalised targets for each participant. In addition, the first cohort of workshop and accelerator programme participants will focus on women entrepreneurs, in continuation of Maybank’s HERpower initiatives.
Select ASEAN markets are expected to launch similar programmes customised to each local market over the next 12 months.
Steven Li, Senior Director of Global E-commerce Strategy, TikTok Shop, shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration. “We are delighted to collaborate with Maybank to accelerate the growth of SMEs in Southeast Asia. It is a meaningful programme that showcases how collaborative industry efforts can drive real-life impact for small businesses in the region’s rapidly growing digital economy," he said.
"We believe entrepreneurs have the potential to create sustainable and lasting ripple effects to the communities they serve. By providing a holistic, values-driven ecosystem of solutions beyond traditional banking services, we hope to support and future-proof businesses at every stage of growth to be their own agents of change. We also aspire to collaborate with industry leaders who share a similar vision, and together create a multiplier effect in uplifting entrepreneurs in the region," added Taufik Albar.
“We are thrilled to pilot this programme in Malaysia, which aims to empower women entrepreneurs with the resources and knowledge to thrive on TikTok Shop, in line with the nation’s effort to promote inclusive economic growth,” concurred Nur Azre Abdul Aziz, Director of Strategic Partnerships, TikTok Shop Malaysia.
For more information about the Maybank x TikTok Shop ASEAN SME Upskilling & Digitalisation Programme in Malaysia, please visit maybank.my/smetiktok.