Why will AI dance with global SMEs?

Why Western economies must unleash armies of entrepreneurs and digitize SMEs to build Godzilla-sized enterprises for the global age. 

Western economies face isolation and decline unless they unleash thousands of Godzilla-sized enterprises through a tidal wave of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This demands armies of entrepreneurs, battle-tested economic development strategies, and a master blueprint to transform nations into global-age powerhouses.

The new mantra: Constant learning, disruption, advancement, and dialogue—fuses work, office, health, money, politics, and globalization into one dynamic force. A world of micro-trade, micro-manufacturing, and micro-exports now beckons, bringing distant markets and bold ideas to every desk. By mobilizing entrepreneurialism on digital platforms, nations can upskill SMEs for exportability, creating unprecedented growth.

The Global Age Mantra: A New Economic Paradigm: The global economy demands constant learning, disruption, and advancement. Work, health, money, politics, and globalization now intertwine, creating a single, complex challenge. Skill winds of trade will blow away tariff wars. This convergence sparks new thinking, connecting impossible ideas, distant lands, and innovative minds. Micro-trade, micro-manufacturing, and micro-exports are no longer niche—they’re the future. Digital platforms enable SMEs to access global markets, transforming local businesses into international players. Nations must embrace this shift, equipping entrepreneurs with skills to compete globally. The opportunity is vast, but execution is critical. Leadership must act decisively to harness this potential, or risk economic stagnation in an interconnected world.

The Critical Role of SMEs in Economic Revival: SMEs are the backbone of any economy, yet many remain underutilized. Most are rich in innovation but lack expertise in commercialization. Overqualified in their craft, they struggle with branding and establishing a global presence. Incubators often fail, transforming into real estate ventures rather than catalysts for growth. Economic development programs, bogged down by bureaucracy, lack entrepreneurial vision. Nations must pivot, focusing on execution over funding. The global market can absorb an unlimited number of exportable ideas, and SMEs are well-positioned to deliver. Unlocking their potential requires bold strategies, digital tools, and a commitment to upskilling for exportability.

Naseem Javed: The coming public hanging of AI: When branding outpaces reality (August 24, 2025)

Challenging National Leadership: Key Questions: Are there 5,000 or 50,000 high-potential SMEs ready for global upskilling? Can regions mobilize entrepreneurialism on digital platforms? Do chambers and associations support SME exportability? Is there a national vision to quadruple innovation and exports? Are women entrepreneurs being uplifted nationally? Are economic development teams skilled for such programs? Can they fast-track upskilling and regional mobilization? Are they ready to digitize SME bases with refined processes? Why prioritize funding over execution? These questions demand answers. Leadership must align on a unified strategy to transform SMEs into global competitors, ensuring economic resilience.

Why Will AI Dance with Global SMEs? AI is not inherently intelligent, but a founder of a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) is. While a founder may not have a PhD-level expertise in global data analysis, AI does. The SME founder, always a job creator, has a mindset that is eager to research and seek procedural support. As deep collaboration between AI and SME projects starts, it will flourish and expand rapidly. Deep study is recommended.

Cold Facts: The SME Reality: Most SMEs are overflowing with innovative ideas but lack effective pathways to market. Skilled in their trade, they falter in business strategy and global branding. Incubators, meant to nurture, often exhaust resources without results. Economic development programs drown in paperwork, missing the entrepreneurial spark. Yet, international markets are hungry for unlimited exportable ideas. Well-designed innovations can scale to quadrupled volumes. National entrepreneurial talent is ready, but the missing link is global-age skills and execution. Nations must bridge this gap to unlock the potential of SMEs and drive economic growth.

Warm Realities: Untapped Opportunities: The world’s appetite for innovative SME products is limitless, spanning countless vertical markets. Entrepreneurs possess the talent to meet this demand, but they need direction. Digital platforms offer unprecedented access to global trade, enabling micro-exports and micro-manufacturing. Nations can quadruple their midsized economies by upskilling SMEs for exports and reskilling the manufacturing sector. The dormant potential of entrepreneurs, especially women, awaits activation. Harmonized efforts, driven by skilled economic teams, can transform regions into export hubs. The challenge is clear: execution, not funding, will define success in this global age.

Naseem Javed: Why nationalize Artificial Intelligence? (February 12, 2025)

The Blueprint: Cabinet-Level Roundtables: A master blueprint for SME mobilization requires Cabinet-level roundtables. These must unite national leadership, chambers, and associations to drive digital upskilling and exportability. The focus is on digitizing 5,000–50,000 SMEs, starting with basic frameworks and scaling to global-ready models. Associations must adopt digital platforms to empower memberships for national and global competition. Training programs should emphasize quadrupling midsize economies through export-focused upskilling and manufacturing reskilling. Execution must trump bureaucracy, with clear timelines and measurable outcomes to ensure SMEs shine in global spotlights.

Workshop Series: Driving SME Transformation: A four-part workshop series can ignite SME growth. First, orient teams to digitize 5,000–50,000 SMEs, building scalable, export-ready models. Second, guide chambers to adopt digital platforms, enabling members to compete globally. Third, train on quadrupling midsize economies via upskilling for exports and reskilling manufacturing. Fourth, focus on the “real engine”—SME-driven growth that creates jobs and fuels local economies. These workshops must prioritize actionable strategies, equipping frontline teams with the necessary tools to execute them effectively. Nations that act swiftly will lead the global economic race.

Digitizing SMEs: The First Step: Digitizing SMEs is the foundation of economic transformation. Start with 5,000–50,000 businesses, teaching basic digital skills before advancing to sophisticated, export-ready models. This requires streamlined processes, not bloated funding. SMEs must learn to leverage e-commerce, global marketplaces, and digital branding to compete. Frontline economic teams need training to guide this shift, ensuring SMEs can navigate global trade platforms. The goal is to transform local businesses into micro-export powerhouses, capable of penetrating international markets and driving national prosperity. Execution is the key to unlocking this potential.

Empowering Associations and Chambers: Chambers and associations must evolve to support the globalization of SMEs. By adopting digital platforms, they can connect members to national and international markets. Training programs should teach associations how to guide SMEs toward exportability, leveraging global trade networks. This alignment ensures that memberships gain access to tools, resources, and markets that were previously out of reach. Harmonized efforts will amplify the impact of SMEs, creating a unified national push for economic growth. Chambers that embrace this role will become catalysts, turning local businesses into global competitors.

Read more columns by Naseem Javed

Quadrupling the Midsize Economy: To quadruple the midsize economy, bold action is required. Upskilling SMEs for exports means teaching global trade compliance, digital marketing, and supply chain management. Reskilling manufacturing ensures SMEs can produce at scale for international markets. This dual approach can multiply economic output, creating jobs and wealth. National leadership must prioritize training programs that equip SMEs with global-age skills. By focusing on execution over funding, nations can unleash a wave of export-driven growth, transforming SMEs into economic engines that rival Godzilla-sized enterprises.

Uplifting Women Entrepreneurs: Women entrepreneurs are a vital, underutilized force. National efforts must harmonize to elevate them, providing access to digital platforms, upskilling programs, and global markets. Tailored training in export strategies and digital tools can empower women-led SMEs to compete internationally. Leadership must ensure equitable access to resources, fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. By prioritizing women’s contributions, nations can unlock dormant potential, driving economic diversity and resilience. This focus will amplify the impact of SMEs, creating a ripple effect of growth across regions and industries.

The Execution Gap: Why Mobilization Matters: Economic development often stalls due to an execution gap. Programs prioritize funding over action, leaving SMEs stranded. Mobilization, not money, is the solution. Nations must train frontline teams to digitize SMEs, streamline processes, and prioritize exportability. This requires a shift from paper-heavy initiatives to entrepreneurial-focused strategies. By addressing the causes of execution lags, leadership can unlock the potential of SMEs. The world awaits innovative ideas, and nations that mobilize effectively will lead the way.

The Global Market Opportunity: Global markets are open to unlimited SME innovations. From micro-trade to micro-manufacturing, opportunities span every vertical. Well-designed ideas can scale to meet global demand, but SMEs need guidance. Digital platforms bridge this gap, connecting local businesses to international buyers. Nations must invest in upskilling programs that teach SMEs to navigate these markets. The talent exists; the challenge is execution. By mobilizing entrepreneurs and digitizing SMEs, nations can seize this moment, transforming local economies into global powerhouses.

A new world is emerging, free download 50-page report now, the “21 Pillars of Nouveau Rationalism” and build national economic growth at full speed. 

Closing: The Time to Revolutionize is Now: The era of waiting has passed. Nations must mobilize armies of entrepreneurs and oceans of SMEs to forge Godzilla-sized enterprises. Through digital platforms, upskilling, and export-focused strategies, SMEs can lead economic revival. Cabinet-level roundtables must drive this blueprint, uniting leadership, chambers, and associations to achieve this goal. The world’s markets await, ready to absorb innovative ideas. Execution, not funding, will define success. By revolutionizing SME ecosystems, nations can secure prosperity and global relevance. The time to act is now—mobilize, digitize, and conquer the international stage.

The rest is easy.