The Asia Business Council conducted its annual survey of members in July and August 2026, gathering perspectives from CEOs and Chairmen of predominantly Asian businesses. Business sentiment across Asia was cautiously optimistic, with inflation emerging as a major economic concern. The U.S. remained the leading destination for new or increased investment, followed by India, while investment interest in Europe and Singapore increased relative to the previous year.

Geopolitics remains the leading concern for the third consecutive year, driven primarily by the tensions between the U.S. and China, though the share of respondents viewing these tensions as a risk declined. Businesses are actively adopting AI by upskilling staff and prioritizing internal efficiency, customer experience, and workforce transformation, even as system integration issues and regulatory ambiguity remain key obstacles. A majority viewed AI adoption as having a positive impact on business.

When asked which technological advances would have a positive impact on Asia’s energy future, the majority identified clean electricity generation, followed by energy storage technologies. When asked how businesses can contribute to making cities more resilient, respondents cited sustainable infrastructure, digital technology, economic diversification, and human capital development.