Digital resilience as a practical blueprint for SMEs in Malaysia

1. Over the past two years, Malaysia has counted roughly one million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Together, they generate close to two-fifths of national GDP and supply nearly half of all jobs. According to the SME Association of Malaysia, as many as 90-95 per cent of firms with more than ten employees have already moved key operations online. Whether those investments translate into lasting advantage now hinges on how confidently businesses turn digital promise into measurable performance.

2. Government policy is firmly behind them. National programmes such as the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint and the forthcoming ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement aim to deepen connectivity, broaden market access and raise the region's collective digital skill base. The opportunity for growing Malaysian firms is therefore to convert high-level ambition into everyday gains that lift productivity at scale.

Malacca Emerges as Malaysia’s Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Hub

1. Malacca is stepping into the spotlight as one of Malaysia’s most promising electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hubs. With billions in investment commitments, growing local job creation, and government-backed incentives, the state is positioning itself as a key driver of Malaysia’s green mobility ambitions under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).

Malaysia’s Global Minimum Tax: Key Implications for Multinationals

 1. Malaysia has implemented the Global Minimum Tax (GMT) as part of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

2. Under Malaysia’s GMT framework, two key tax mechanisms have been introduced to ensure compliance with the 15 percent minimum effective tax rate. The Domestic Top-up Tax (DTT) applies to Malaysian entities, ensuring they meet the required tax threshold, while the Multinational Top-up Tax (MTT) is designed for MNEs operating in Malaysia to align their global income taxation with international standards.

3. Companies falling below this threshold must file a top-up tax return, with transitional penalty relief available to support businesses during the initial implementation phase.

4. This framework, effective from January 1, 2025, is part of Malaysia’s commitment to aligning its tax policies with OECD guidelines and maintaining competitiveness within the ASEAN region.

Helping small businesses thrive in the digital economy

1. Leaders across the public and private sectors have long recognized the importance of supporting small businesses. Across OECD countries, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) represent around 99% of all firms, are a main source of employment and generate 50% to 60% of value added on average.

2. But it isn’t just about economies, it is about stronger communities and greater social inclusion. And by helping small businesses accelerate their digital journeys, it has a multiplier effect in building much wider access to the digital economy.

Small businesses are key to a more sustainable and inclusive world. Here's why

1. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a force to be reckoned with. They make up 90% of businesses globally, create two out of every three jobs worldwide, support the livelihoods of over two billion people, and are indispensable to the smooth functioning of global supply chains.

2. Despite their enormous impact, many are not yet fully engaged on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. It is easy to understand why. The EU, for example, classifies small businesses as those with 11-49 people and revenues below €10 million a year. A medium-sized business has 50-249 people and annual revenues of up to €50 million.

3. Owners and managers in such firms have a lot on their plate, and fewer resources than their larger rivals. They may feel they lack the time, knowledge, capacity or funds to tackle problems like the climate crisis or discrimination against minorities. Others simply do not know where to start. But we do need SMEs to work for a better world – for their own sake and for everyone.

Global FDI in the Food Industry

 1. Between 2019 and 2023, the food sector was the twelfth largest FDI sector in terms of the number of greenfield investments. The food sector accounts for 3.3% of global greenfield FDI projects.

2. Greenfield foreign direct investment is when a company invests abroad to establish a new physical presence or expand an existing operation. Greenfield investments create jobs and/or involve a capital investment into the foreign location. Other forms of FDI, such as mergers and acquisitions, are not included as part of this definition.

3. Combined, the top ten destination countries account for 52.6% of total food FDI projects.

Global FDI in the Biotechnology Industry

 1. Between 2019 and 2023, the biotechnology sector was the twenty-fifth largest FDI sector in terms of the number of greenfield investments. The biotechnology sector accounts for 0.6% of global greenfield FDI projects.

2. Greenfield foreign direct investment is when a company invests abroad to establish a new physical presence or expand an existing operation. Greenfield investments create jobs and/or involve a capital investment into the foreign location. Other forms of FDI, such as mergers and acquisitions, are not included as part of this definition.

3. Combined, the top ten destination countries account for 69.4% of total biotechnology FDI projects.