Shaping ASEAN’s Future: SMEs and Halal Brands Lead the Transformation

16 November 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: For decades, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been regarded as the backbone of their economies. Now, for the first time, a new generation of businesses is redefining what that truly means.

The inaugural ASEAN SME100 Awards and ASEAN Halal Brand Awards, organised by Business Media International in conjunction with the ASEAN SME Forum, marked a pivotal moment — celebrating not just success, but profound transformation.

The ASEAN SME100 Awards honoured companies that have transcended national borders to establish themselves as regional disruptors. These aren’t merely growing firms; they are ambitious innovators shaping ASEAN’s competitiveness on the global stage.

From digital technology to logistics, manufacturing to lifestyle, these enterprises demonstrate that influence is no longer measured by size alone. Agility, innovation, and regional collaboration are the new benchmarks of success.

Their stories prove that ASEAN’s economic potential is real, unfolding in real time, driven by enterprises that refuse to see geography as a barrier.

Parallel to this is another quiet revolution, the rise of ASEAN’s halal industry. The ASEAN Halal Brand Awards recognised brands that have gone beyond compliance, turning halal into a global value system rooted in ethics, authenticity, and ambition.

With halal markets projected to surpass USD 5 trillion by 2030, ASEAN’s halal champions are redefining trust and quality in a borderless economy. These brands have earned regional respect by blending faith with modern business innovation.

The awards serve a greater purpose: to reshape ASEAN’s self-perception. For too long, SMEs have been seen as national players with confined growth. These recognitions challenge that narrative, highlighting those who have evolved into regional catalysts.

This shift reflects a deeper regional truth: ASEAN’s future will be shaped not only by governments or multinationals but by SMEs bold enough to connect across cultures, sectors, and markets.

Held alongside the ASEAN SME Forum, these awards are more than celebrations, they are a declaration that ASEAN’s entrepreneurial class is ready to lead. They aim to create new pathways for SMEs to gain visibility, credibility, and cross-border partnerships.

As ASEAN moves towards deeper economic integration, one thing is clear: the next wave of regional powerhouses will not emerge from size alone, but from vision, a vision of ASEAN as one interconnected ecosystem, not ten separate markets.