South East Asia

New growth leaders such as Indonesia and the Philippines have surprised many with the robustness of their growth during the global debt crisis in 2008 and 2009.

Malaysia and Thailand continue to post steady rates of growth despite some noticeable slowdown compared to previous decades. Some argue the two countries already face a potential “middle-income trap” even as they achieve average growth rates of 4-5% annually.

A major milestone for South-east Asia will be the introduction of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Companies can look forward to more liberalisation and easier cross-border market access, even though some observers note the final steps towards deeper integration will be challenging.

OBG has been following the developments of all the major economies in South-east Asia.  With its editorial offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, Yangon, Bandar Seri Begawan and Port Moresby, OBG has a comprehensive vantage point to explore regional developments in key business sectors.

From communications and finance to tourism, energy and agriculture,  OBG’s team of analysts has been able to track and explain investment opportunities for both domestic and foreign investors.

One common theme in South-east Asia has been a new focus on technology transfer, gradually reducing reliance on natural resources, be it mining, oil and gas, or plantations. 

In the next 10 years nations that allocate a greater portion of their revenues towards health and education will likely gain a competitive advantage.

An investment in human talent development has already paid off for pioneers such as Singapore, with Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines now focusing on acquiring new skills in knowledge-based sectors. Indonesia faces sharp shortages in skills across different sectors, but at the same time enjoys a significant demographic dividend with one of the youngest populations in the world.