SME policy push: Pakistan’s finance minister reviewed capital market reforms aimed at deepening the corporate debt market and cutting reliance on bank lending, with extra focus on financing for SMEs. Investment climate: Gujarat topped NITI Aayog’s first Investment Friendliness Index 2026, citing single-window approvals, faster NOCs, stable labour conditions, and lower industrial power tariffs. SME lending: Indonesia earmarked Rp300 trillion for micro-entrepreneurs via the KUR scheme, with Rp167 trillion already disbursed by mid-2026. Digital business services: Parañaque City highlighted its online business permits system (Pque-eBOSS) for faster licensing and reduced red tape, alongside revenue and registration growth. Home services growth: Rizen Estimates launched a done-for-you appointment-setting service that delivers booked, pre-qualified estimate appointments to contractors instead of shared leads. Payments for small merchants: Alipay+ enabled cross-border QR payments in Argentina by integrating with the national Transferencias 3.0 scheme, expanding reach for local (including small) merchants. Local retail pressure: Quick commerce is starting to reach Kashmir, raising questions about how instant delivery will reshape local shopping habits and labour conditions. SME hiring/tech: Emergent raised $130m Series C at a $1.5b valuation, betting on AI-powered app creation for non-technical founders and small businesses. Community business spotlight: A popular yoga studio in Sutton Coldfield announced it’s closing due to rising costs, a reminder that even growing memberships can’t always beat local economics. Women in business: Southern Africa’s wine industry faces a leadership and ownership gap for women, despite women driving much of the sector’s work and value.