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Social Enterprise World Forum announces first ever host city for SEWF Regional 2027
The Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) today announced that Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will host the first of two SEWF Regional events in 2027, bringing together social entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors and ecosystem leaders from across the region from 4–5 May 2027.
Co-hosted by Biji-biji Initiative with the Malaysian Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) and Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN), the event will be held at Asia School of Business. This event marks the first of two SEWF Regional gatherings planned for 2027, with the second host city to be announced in the coming months. Together, the two events form the latest chapter in SEWF’s mission to strengthen social enterprise ecosystems worldwide and connect changemakers building a more inclusive, sustainable economy.
“Malaysia has spent years turning ambition into an ecosystem, spearheaded by a national blueprint to increase the impact of thousands of social enterprises. We saw that momentum first-hand when, together with the Sabah Creative Economy & Innovation Centre, we brought the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering to Kota Kinabalu in 2025. Co-hosting SEWF Regional in Kuala Lumpur with Biji-biji Initiative means participants get to see world class practice in real time. Malaysia is more than ready to provide the platform to explore much bigger conversations on what type of economies we need, right across Asia and beyond.” – Gerry Higgins, Founder and Managing Director, Social Enterprise World Forum
About SEWF Regional Malaysia
This first-ever regional event will convene 500 participants for a two-day conference programme including panels, workshops and networking as well as a marketplace showcasing social enterprises from the region. The event will spotlight Asia’s social enterprise movement and explore region-specific topics, while connecting to the global conversation.
“Biji-biji Initiative has spent over a decade building what changemakers in this region actually need – knowledge, networks and the infrastructure to go further. Co-hosting SEWF Regional is not separate from that work. It is the fullest expression of it. Malaysia’s social enterprise ecosystem has never been better positioned to have this conversation with the world and we intend to make the most of it.” Juliana Adam, CEO & Founding Partner, Biji-biji Initiative
A second SEWF Regional event, in a different host city, will follow later in 2027, with details to be announced later this year. Together, the two events are designed to bring SEWF to more communities around the world for in-person participation and connection, while also providing the movement a platform to gather amid growing geopolitical disruption globally. Participants will include social entrepreneurs, policymakers, changemakers, researchers, funders, investors and supporters from around the world.
About Biji-biji Initiative
Biji-biji Initiative is a social impact organisation that equips changemakers with knowledge, technology, networks and resources through purposefully designed programmes. Over more than a decade, Biji-biji has designed and delivered programmes that develop the skills, strategy and structure organisations need to deliver lasting impact. With 100+ collaborations and 130+ projects they have driven sustainable impact by nurturing 836,000+ people across Malaysia and ASEAN.
About the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF)
Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) is the leading global organisation dedicated to strengthening the social enterprise movement in transitioning to the new economy. Through events, initiatives and partnerships, we connect and empower social enterprises, changemakers, network, intermediaries, policymakers and purpose-driven to build an inclusive, sustainable economy that puts people and planet first.
