Welcoming Remarks at the GROWMatch 2025

Speaker: Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia
Location: Securities Commission Malaysia

Delivered: 18 September 2025

Yang Berbahagia Dato' Sri Norazman bin Ayob, Deputy Secretary-General (Policy), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,

Mr. Loi Tuan Ee, Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Farm Fresh Berhad,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and good morning.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) for the second edition of GROWMatch.
When we launched GROWMatch last year, the vision was simple: to connect promising agri-business ventures with alternative financing opportunities. They are at the frontline in tackling some of our nation’s most pressing challenges – from food production and productivity to pioneering transformative agri-tech solutions.
These solutions can be wide-ranging; from remote sensing technologies for optimal water use, to controlled environment systems, as well as drought resilient crops, to name a few. They are not just ideas to be financed, but represent a leap forward for Malaysia’s food security and resilience.

Facilitating Alternative Financing for Agriculture
While traditional funding sources – family and friends, bank loans, government grants – are available, they are not always accessible, especially for the 15,000+ micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agriculture sector .
Many lack the track record and collateral to secure capital to innovate and scale up. This presents a significant challenge for our self-sufficiency goals.
In addition, fluctuating weather patterns and production yields make revenues and cash flows less predictable than normal businesses.
Alternative financing avenues such as Equity Crowdfunding (ECF) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) financing, are therefore, more suited to provide the risk capital required. Offerings can be flexibly structured to accommodate the unique risks and cash flow cycles inherent to the agricultural sector.
Since 2015, these digital platforms have helped over 200 agri-based MSMEs raise more than RM70 million cumulatively. While this is encouraging, they only constitute 1.3% of MSMEs in this sector. This suggests that more outreach is required as the potential is vast.
Ultimately, entrepreneurs must be encouraged to explore and access alternative financing channels to grow, thrive, and make an impact.
To support MSME growth, the Government established the Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF) in October 2019. Through this initiative, the Government co-invests alongside private investors through ECF and P2P platforms. As of 2024, MyCIF has co-invested a total of RM1.19 billion since its launch - a significant milestone.
It has also supported key national growth pillars. The MyCIF food security scheme introduced in 2022, has invested a total of RM15 million as of 2024 , demonstrating a strong commitment to strengthening our nation's food security.

Bridging Businesses through GROWMatch

Ladies and gentlemen,
Tackling the funding gap, particularly in agriculture, is no easy feat.
Therefore, the SC is fortunate to have like-minded partners willing to work with us, including through the Malaysian Innovation Agri-Financing Steering Committee (MIAF).
With representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Agrobank, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and the SC, the committee is dedicated to raise understanding and utilisation of alternative financing within the agriculture sector.
This is also why GROWMatch was created – to address the funding gap and cultivate innovation in the agri- and bio-based sectors.
Last year’s GROWMatch cohort demonstrated what can be achieved when agri-food ventures are connected with the right investors and partners.
Several participants successfully raised initial funding and attracted follow-on investments from larger funds and venture capital firms. Some even expanded into overseas markets, demonstrating GROWMatch’s potential as a springboard for growth beyond Malaysia’s borders.
Apart from securing capital, participants also benefited from new business opportunities and expanded networks through their strategic partners.
In addition, they received continuous support in the form of grants and exposure to business programmes, highlighting the strength of an interconnected ecosystem.

GROWMatch 2025
This year, I am pleased to share that we have expanded the pitching pool to 50 participants from 20 previously. Of these 50, 88% are at the pre-seed or seed stage, and 12% are seeking to raise external funds for the first time. Interestingly, about half of eligible applicants are from outside the Klang Valley.
We are also adopting a more targeted approach. Under the theme of ‘Tackling Industry Challenges to Strengthen Malaysia's Food Security with Alternative Financing’, participants can be categorised into three focus areas.
Firstly, climate-resilient and farming solutions such as precision monitoring, aquaculture systems and controlled environment agriculture. This makes up the largest share of applicants at 54%.
The second area of focus is soil degradation and nutrient depletion, comprising 34% of applicants who specialise in regenerative agriculture and bio-fertilisers.
The remaining category, sustainable feed and livestock health, covers ventures involved in alternative and nutrient-rich feeds.
More importantly, over half of today’s participants promote environmental-friendly and sustainable practices.

Closing

Ladies and gentlemen,
Today’s event would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our many partners – spanning public and private development institutions, academia, platform operators, ecosystem builders, industry associations, government agencies, to our anchor partner the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM). Thank you for making GROWMatch a success.
Your dedication and generosity have enabled this initiative to evolve from a mentorship-based format to offering a comprehensive package. Through pitching workshops, and capacity building programmes, the aim is to cultivate a new generation of agri-preneurs who are prepared to scale regionally and globally.
GROWMatch has grown to be more than a platform. It is an ecosystem; an innovation-first community that brings bold ideas, visionary entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors together.
Today, let us be open-minded and collaborative. Let us connect, innovate, and build bridges for a sustainable future in Malaysian food security.
With that, I wish you a fruitful session ahead.

Thank you.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM)
Source: Malaysia Co-investment Fund (MyCIF) Annual Performance Report 2024