SME Policy Push (Malaysia): SME Malaysia is urging Budget 2027 to measure outcomes for SMEs—productivity, investment, AI adoption, exports—while simplifying access to support programs instead of just expanding grants. Cross-Border Manufacturing Finance (Malaysia/Singapore): Maybank and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation signed an MoU to plug manufacturers and vendors into the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, with banking support for payments, trade finance, and ESG supply chains. Startup Funding (Cambodia): Cambodia’s Entrepreneurship Development Fund launched “Startup Investment Package Program Cohort 2,” building on Cohort 1’s equity deals for selected startups and SMEs. Disaster Relief Speed (Ohio, US): Gov. Mike DeWine asked FEMA and the SBA to start damage assessments in parallel with the state so eligible counties can move faster toward aid. Local Business Growth (US): Downtown Rutherfordton expects at least eight new openings, while Rutherford County tourism spending is still down after Hurricane Helene but continues to rebound. MSME Sector Support (South Africa): Ramaphosa launched a new government-business partnership phase targeting one million jobs with clearer timelines and measurable targets, including support for small businesses. SME Tech & AI (Nigeria): A study says Nigerian SMEs can use AI for customer service, marketing, accounting, inventory, and logistics—without big tech teams—though adoption barriers remain.