{
  "id": 18234087,
  "title": "Growth-stage SMEs need stronger financing, talent and management support to scale up – Fadillah",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/growth-stage-smes-need-stronger-financing-talent-and-management",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T02:38:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/129204/growth-stage-smes-need-stronger-financing-talent-and-management-support-to-scale-up-fadillah"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister II, Fadillah Yusof, has emphasized the need for stronger support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are at the growth stage. These businesses, which have secured significant contracts or expanded into international markets, often face new challenges that require additional resources. These include recruiting more workers, upgrading equipment, enhancing management capabilities, and obtaining further financing. Fadillah stressed the importance of adopting a more structured approach to assist these growth-stage SMEs, involving collaboration with relevant ministries, government agencies, and industry stakeholders. However, any proposed approach must be thoroughly evaluated, considering existing initiatives and the practical needs of these businesses. Fadillah also highlighted the importance of listening to entrepreneurs themselves, as those with firsthand experience in building and navigating businesses understand best where support can have the most significant impact. Speaking at the World Marketing Summit Malaysia 2026, Fadillah stressed that entrepreneurship should not only focus on establishing businesses but also on building their capacity and resilience to sustain expansion. He pointed out that successful SME growth can generate broader economic benefits, such as job creation, more income opportunities for local suppliers, and meaningful careers within communities. Fadillah also stressed the importance of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, ensuring that technology adoption improves productivity and customer service. However, he cautioned that AI should not replace human judgment, integrity, and accountability. Fadillah emphasized that the government and the private sector must work together to strengthen infrastructure, investment, education, and talent development to enhance the competitiveness of Malaysian enterprises.",
  "summary": "MALAYSIA needs to strengthen support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the growth stage, particularly in financing, workforce development and management capabilities, to help them scale up and compete internationally, Deputy Prime Minister I...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "Business : Govt Welcomes Proposal For More Structured Support For Growth-stage SMEs -- Fadillah",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/business-govt-welcomes-proposal-for-more-structured-support-for",
        "published": "2026-11-05T03:44:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Govt open to stronger support framework for SMEs moving beyond initial growth, says Fadillah",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/govt-open-to-stronger-support-framework-for-smes-moving-beyond",
        "published": "2026-11-05T04:58:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}