Asean stays top pick as preferred region for economic opportunities
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean remains favoured over China and South Asia for economic opportunities, according to the EU-Asean Business Council (EU-ABC) survey.
KUALA LUMPUR: An EU-Asean Business Council survey indicates that Asean remains a top choice for European businesses seeking economic opportunities, despite global disruptions weakening overall business confidence. This is the fourth consecutive year Asean has held this position. The survey, which polled 150 European business leaders, found that 78 percent anticipate a rise in trade and investment in Asean over the next five years, up from 71 percent in 2025.
Vietnam and Indonesia are the leading destinations, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. However, US tariff policy uncertainty remains a significant concern, weakening business confidence among 81 percent of respondents. Despite this, plans to expand operations in Asean are on the rise, with 64 percent of respondents targeting Vietnam, 57 percent Indonesia, and 49 percent each of Malaysia and Thailand.
The survey suggests a stabilizing presence in the region, supported by increasing investment expectations and a more favorable perception of economic opportunities.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
