A new report by the Asia Business Council, featuring the Asia Manufacturing Diversification Index, assesses the preparedness of ten emerging Asian economies vis-à-vis China in a new world of global trade, as multinational businesses look to adopt “China-plus-one” or even “China-plus-many” strategies in export manufacturing, and intra-Asian trade continues to soar. It offers a strategic roadmap for countries aiming to increase their investment appeal by identifying new growth opportunities and overcoming obstacles in the face of global supply chain shifts and escalating trade tensions.
Staying ahead will require diversifying in hi-tech sectors, boosting workforce resilience and advancing sustainable supply chains
A collaborative article by the Asia Business Council and McKinsey delved into the perspectives of business leaders in Asia as they navigate an emerging and potentially more turbulent era, in terms of world order, technology, demographics, resource and energy systems, and financial capitalization. Overall, they believe the region can sustain its growth but will need strategic adjustments to address disruptions and volatility in a multipolar world.
Asian countries may suffer setbacks in their manufacturing ambitions if they aren’t able to produce more sustainably from the start and decarbonise rapidly
The speed of India’s rise in consumerism is outpacing China’s as the gap between the two countries’ markets continues to narrow. If it wants to maintain its lead as the world’s top market, China must broaden its focus to include rural areas and cater to often-overlooked consumer bases.
Increasingly, new cross-border environmental regulations like the EU’s carbon tax will leave countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia little choice but to play catch up or risk losing out on global trade. Asian markets can embrace sustainability through artificial intelligence, clean energy investments and more collaboration among industries.
China’s growth trajectory, the impact of global economic conditions, geopolitical tensions and ambiguity on the energy transition are all risks. But businesses can prepare by boosting in-house intelligence and diversity – both in recruitment and operations.
Asia’s economic growth and development have been unparalleled over the past 75 years. Poverty has declined continuously and more rapidly than at any time in recorded history, and significant welfare gains have been achieved. These achievements have been driven by Asia’s growing participation in international trade and global value chains, which underpin the globalization process. More broadly, globalization refers to the integration of economies that has been achieved through growing levels of international trade, finance, and investment, and through the mounting exchanges of people, ideas, and data.
The latest Asia Business Council survey shows firms are worried about geopolitics. Energy is the top concern amid high prices and conflict.
In 2021, resilience is undoubtedly top-of-mind for business leaders as they face the COVID-19 pandemic and threat of climate change amidst a precarious geopolitical environment. While corporate resilience is the capacity of an individual company to transform nimbly, rebound quickly, and prepare effectively for dramatically changed circumstances, collective resilience refers to the capacity of multiple …
