Fast or Frustrating? Comparing Bureaucracy Across Southeast Asia

How quickly can you get from business idea to operations? Let’s compare setup speed, government efficiency, and ownership rules across 4 markets.

Brendon Lai

4/19/20251 min read

Ease of Doing Business

Advantage:
Malaysia stands out for SMEs who value agility and minimal red tape — with fully digital systems and fewer restrictions on foreign ownership.