All Countries and All Sectors

While global investment is expected to fall sharply this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, impact investment – the funding of projects that generate a positive social or environmental impact, as well as a financial return – is tipped to hold relatively steady, and could play a key role in the recovery of emerging market economies.

At the start of 2020, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – potentially the world’s largest free trade deal – seemed on track to be signed by the end of the year. However, the coronavirus pandemic has slowed that process, raising some questions about when the agreement will be formalised.

In recent years, Papua New Guinea has moved away from its long-held policy of tariff reductions, towards import substitution and self-sufficiency. As the coronavirus pandemic underlines vulnerabilities in public finances and international supply chains, efforts to scale up local industrial production are likely to take on renewed importance, as is the need to reduce exposure to unsustainable debt.

The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on business investment. However, while the volume of investments has plunged worldwide, there are hints that South-east Asia could see new mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in specific sectors.

Covid-19 dealt a body blow to the global travel industry, but there are signs that a recovery is slowly under way as policymakers make concerted efforts to meet pent-up demand for leisure tourism. However, business travel will take longer to recuperate, and may struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels.