Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are pivotal to the economies of Southeast Asia, with Singapore’s SMEs employing two-thirds of the workforce and contributing nearly half of the nation’s GDP.
However, as climate change demands sustainable practices, MSMEs face challenges such as limited access to financing and technical expertise. In response, Singapore’s government has introduced programmes like the Enterprise Sustainability Programme and SMEs Go Digital to aid SMEs in their sustainability journey.
In Indonesia, the Siak Sustainable Creative Centre (Skelas) has launched the Siak Sustainable Business Incubation (Kubisa) programme to support indigenous entrepreneurs in the Siak region of Riau. This initiative focuses on intergenerational collaboration, involving young people in training business owners on digital marketing and product innovation. Kubisa emphasises using locally grown products to minimise environmental impact and empower local communities.
Since its start in 2023, Kubisa has seen growing enthusiasm, with participant numbers tripling in 2024. The programme selected 20 participants, including 17 culinary and three fashion entrepreneurs. Santi Lestari, a participant, noted the programme’s assistance in marketing and packaging her gluten-free product.
Skelas also facilitates connections with investors and governments, organising Demo Days and business matching events. Collaborations with national charities have provided funding of IDR 60 million to 12 selected participants, focusing on those with incomes below IDR 5 million. Cerli Febri from Skelas expressed optimism about the programme’s potential to drive economic and environmental impact in the region.
