# Entrepreneurship and SME support in Southeast Asia > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/entrepreneurship-and-sme-support-in-southeast-asia > Updated: 2026-10-24T17:35:20.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. In Sabah, Malaysia, the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET) is implementing programs to bolster local employment and small businesses. Recent efforts include a partnership providing job offers to graduates of a precision micro-soldering and electronics program, as well as the SME-UP Assistance Program, which has supported thousands of entrepreneurs to improve production capacity and competitiveness. New measures also include assistance for trademark registration and halal certification, alongside partnerships with retail networks to improve market access. Broader regional trends show individual and academic engagement in business development. In Malaysia, young entrepreneurs are transitioning from other industries to focus on full-time business management. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, educational institutions are hosting festivals to provide students with real-world market experience through student-led business booths. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-24: Entrepreneurship initiatives highlight youth business development Entrepreneurs in Malaysia and Indonesia are pursuing diverse paths, from a former flight attendant launching a perfume brand to BINUS @Malang students showcasing businesses at a festival. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/entrepreneurship-initiatives-highlight-youth-business-development ### 2026-10-23: Sabah government initiatives support graduates and SMEs Sabah's MINDET is driving economic growth through technical training partnerships for graduates and the SME-UP program, which has supported nearly 5,900 local entrepreneurs since 2017. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sabah-government-initiatives-support-graduates-and-smes --- Cite as: Entrepreneurship and SME support in Southeast Asia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/entrepreneurship-and-sme-support-in-southeast-asia