Halal & SME exports: Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim says the country can become a global halal hub, pointing to international interest from leaders including China, Brazil and South Africa, as Penang hosts PIHEX 2026 and a Bumiputera entrepreneur gathering. Local-to-global market access: Sabah’s JOM MALAYSIA push is framed as more than a sales festival—linking entrepreneurs, government, industry and finance to build a “local to global” pipeline. Food security for small business: Malaysia’s Labuan urged to expand greenhouse farming to cut dependence on mainland Sabah (90% of food currently imported), warning that supply shocks can hit essentials like eggs and cooking oil. Trade deal upside, compliance drag: India’s India-UK FTA (in force July 15) could lift trade to $115B by 2030 and add 700,000–1M jobs, but firms—especially MSMEs—face tougher quality, certification, rules-of-origin and sustainability requirements. Regulation squeeze on manufacturers: India’s Quality Control Orders are raising costs and disrupting supply chains, with MSMEs hit hardest as input-related QCOs expanded rapidly. AI power and politics: In the US, Trump is expanding a pledge to protect consumers from higher utilities bills tied to data centers—an election-year flashpoint for small towns and local businesses. Tariffs meet the courts: Trump’s new 10%–12.5% forced-labor tariffs face immediate lawsuits from US small businesses, while trading partners warn of consumer and trade harm. UPI payments shake-up: WhatsApp overtook CRED in June UPI transaction volume, while PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm keep the top three spots. Energy cost pressure: Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery resumed diesel sales in naira but raised the gantry price by 10% to ₦1,650/litre, likely pushing up costs for distributors, manufacturers and small businesses. Regional SME momentum: Iraq and ESCWA announced the 4th Arab SMEs Summit in Baghdad (Nov 18–20, 2026), targeting $300M+ in support commitments for regional entrepreneurs. Tech & jobs pipeline: Bangladesh’s PM Tarique Rahman called semiconductors the next growth engine after RMG, announcing incentives and a semiconductor-friendly ecosystem.