Positive Growth Seen for SEA

Countries that are part of the Southeast Asian region are expected to remain resilient and will continue to attract investments in high-growth sectors, such as industrial and data centers, despite the uncertainties in the global landscape due to the evolving tariff situation caused by US President Trump's reciprocal tariffs.

- MARIANNE GO

This was the assessment of Xian Yang Wong, head of research, Singapore and Southeast Asia at Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global commercial real estate services firm.

In a recent virtual briefing, Wong noted that "Southeast Asia's resilience and strategic positioning make it a prime destination for global capital, but businesses must stay agile amid macroeconomic shifts." He said that "despite challenges, I think Southeast Asia is still one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. It is still expected to become one of the world's fourth-largest economies by 2030. And you can really see this in terms of economic growth in recent years."

Wong pointed out that economic growth across Southeast Asia in 2023 and 2024 has continued to do well despite higher interest rates and inflation. "GDP growth was in the surplus in 2023, and while in 2025 it will come down slightly, it still remains quite commendable despite all uncertainties...domestic consumption is really very strong. It's really a key driver of gross domestic product or GDP," he pointed out.

As for most of Southeast Asia, Wong continued, "unemployment remains low, we still see rich growth. And the longer-term fundamentals, such as youthful demographics, expanding middle class, urbanization and higher spending on infrastructure, these facts remain unchanged and this will underpin the long-term growth of Southeast Asia. So, the region is really no longer seen as a strategy for supply chain diversification, but also a key growth market for many businesses."