Category: SMEs

The New Generation of FTAs: Why Services Are Replacing Tariffs as the Main Trade Issue

18 July 202619 July 2026 Perumal Koshy No Comments

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have traditionally been associated with tariff liberalisation and improved market access for goods. For several decades, trade negotiations largely focused on reducing customs duties, eliminating quantitative restrictions and facilitating merchandise trade. The success of an agreement was often measured by the extent to which it lowered tariffs and expanded opportunities for…

FEATURED, Free Trade, Opinion, SMEs, TOP STORIES

Currys Business Expands Business Hub Network to Strengthen Technology Support for UK SMEs

16 July 202619 July 2026 Svetlana M No Comments

London: Responding to the growing technology needs of Britain’s small and medium-sized enterprises, Currys Business has expanded its nationwide network of Business Hubs with the launch of 10 new locations across the United Kingdom. The expansion follows a 20 percent year-on-year growth in demand for its business services and increases the total number of Business…

FEATURED, News, SMEs, TOP STORIES

Rungta Tea Strengthens Distributor Capability Through Profitability Training for Trade Partners

15 July 202619 July 2026 Svetlana M No Comments

As competition intensifies in India’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, companies are increasingly recognizing that sustained market growth depends not only on product quality but also on the business capabilities of their distribution networks. For firms operating through extensive dealer and retailer ecosystems, investing in partner development has become an important strategic tool for improving…

News, SMEs, TOP STORIES

More Restrictive Digital Regulations Could Cost Malaysia RM792 Million (US$186 Million) in Annual Venture Capital Investment, Oxford Economics Study Finds

14 July 202619 July 2026 Svetlana M No Comments

More Restrictive Digital Regulations Could Cost Malaysia RM792 Million (US6 Million) in Annual Venture Capital Investment, Oxford Economics Study Finds

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 14, 2026 – Malaysia’s startup ecosystem could lose an estimated RM792 million (approximately US$186 million) in annual venture capital (VC) investment over the next decade if digital regulations become more restrictive, according to a new study by Oxford Economics commissioned by Digital Prosperity Asia (DPA). The report concludes that while Malaysia…

FEATURED, News, Reports, SMEs, Startups, TOP STORIES

Beyond Startup Disruption: Why Innovation Must Strengthen Industrial Ecosystems, Not Weaken Them

11 July 202619 July 2026 Perumal Koshy No Comments

The growing tendency to equate disruption with innovation is reshaping economic policy and investment priorities. While technological progress remains essential, disruption-led growth can weaken SMEs, employment, and productive sectors when pursued as an end in itself. Sustainable innovation must expand productive capacity, strengthen enterprise ecosystems, and generate long-term economic resilience rather than merely accelerating market…

FEATURED, MENA, SMEs, Startups, TOP STORIES

Beyond Startups and SMEs: Towards an Integrated Enterprise Ecosystem for the Future

13 June 202611 July 2026 Perumal Koshy No Comments

The future of enterprise development requires moving beyond the traditional divide between startups and SMEs. As business models evolve, innovation is emerging from both new ventures and established enterprises. Building integrated enterprise ecosystems that combine experience, technology, finance, mentoring, and innovation capabilities can unlock new opportunities for growth, competitiveness, employment, and sustainable economic transformation. Over…

FEATURED, innovation, Opinion, SMEs, Startups, Technology, TOP STORIES

India–Oman CEPA: Transforming Centuries of Trust into the Next Generation of Economic Partnership

2 June 202611 July 2026 Perumal Koshy No Comments

The signing and impending implementation of the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) comes at a time when international trade relationships are being reassessed. Businesses are diversifying supply chains, countries are seeking dependable economic partners, and enterprises are exploring markets where long-term cooperation and investment opportunities can be developed. The India–Oman CEPA should therefore not…

Business, FEATURED, Free Trade, India, News, Opinion, SMEs, TOP STORIES

From Conflict to Correction: Evolving Economic Priorities in the Gulf

10 April 202610 April 2026 Perumal Koshy No Comments

The recent phase of military tension involving the United States–Israel coalition and Iran appears to be moving toward gradual de-escalation. Even so, the economic effects of several weeks of heightened uncertainty are likely to persist across sectors and regions. Energy market anxieties, including localized supply disruptions, have once again highlighted the importance of resilient distribution…

FEATURED, Opinion, SMEs, TOP STORIES

Small Business Cyber Insurance: From Optional Safeguard to Strategic Necessity

9 April 202610 April 2026 Svetlana M No Comments

According to Growth Market Report,the global small business cyber insurance marketsize reached USD 3.1 billion in 2024, reflecting a robust demand for risk mitigation solutions among small and medium enterprises. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.4% from 2025 to 2033, reaching a forecasted value of USD 16.2 billion by 2033. The global small business landscape is…

FEATURED, SMEs, Technology, TOP STORIES

Parametric Weather Insurance Emerges as a Strategic Risk Instrument for SMEs Amid Rising Climate Volatility

2 April 20262 April 2026 Chris Peterson No Comments

According to Research Intelo, the Global Parametric SME Weather Insurance market size was valued at $1.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2033, expanding at a robust CAGR of 15.7% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2033. The primary factor driving this impressive growth is the increasing frequency and severity of weather-related events, which has heightened risk…

FEATURED, SMEs, TOP STORIES