ASEAN Rising with Matthew Barsing
Independent commentary on ASEAN business, capital, technology, trade, geopolitics and execution economics.
Founder, author and commentator on ASEAN.
Australian-born and based in Malaysia since 2001, Matthew Barsing is a business leader, author, former Head of Foreign Direct Investment at MDEC, board advisor and commentator on ASEAN business, investment and policy. Author of Unleashing Malaysia's Economic Potential. Advisor to businesses, governments and investors across ASEAN and Central Asia.
- Ex-Head of FDI, MDEC
- Published author
- Board advisor
- NST columnist
- 17M+ views / 12 months
Six pillars. One region.
Equities, debt, IPOs and capital flows across the eleven ASEAN exchanges.
Data centres, AI infrastructure, semiconductors and the region's digital backbone.
Supply chains, FTAs and the tariff actions reshaping Southeast Asian exports.
ASEAN centrality, US, China competition and the diplomacy of the region.
FDI, sovereign capital and the private deal flow underwriting the next decade.
The capacity to convert policy and capital into compounding returns.
From the desk
ThailandThailand: Beyond Vehicle Sales Forecasts
Thailand's ambitions in the electric vehicle sector depend on more than just sales projections. The country's ability to translate policy into real investment hinges on the slower, harder work of building institutional capacity.
SingaporeSingapore, Malaysia, and the data centre boom
PwC forecasts Singapore's annual data centre investment to reach US$19.2 billion by 2050, as part of a US$1.29 trillion regional surge that includes Malaysia.
ThailandThailand EV Transition: A Test of Institutional Capacity
Thailand's EV ambitions are attracting investment, but turning announcements into operational factories requires more than just policy. It will be a test of the country's institutional capacity to deliver land, power, and talent.
SingaporeSingapore, Malaysia, and the Data Center Land Rush
A recent PwC forecast for data center investment in Singapore and Malaysia highlights the institutional factors that attract hyperscale capacity. While Singapore has a head start, Malaysia is leveraging its own strengths in land and power to compete.
ThailandThailand: EV Policy is No Substitute for Execution
Thailand has a trust deficit and an infrastructure deficit in its electric vehicle transition. Policy can signal intent, but foreign direct investment flows to where the power, land, and talent are.
SingaporeSingapore, Malaysia, and the data-centre buildout: not just about power
PwC projects a data-centre investment surge in Singapore and Malaysia. While power is a necessary input, it is not sufficient. Capital coordination across utilities, planning, and connectivity is what makes hyperscale capacity possible.
All eleven ASEAN nations.
Trade hub bridging Singapore and Thailand, strong in electronics, palm oil and Islamic finance.
ASEAN's financial and tech capital, home to regional HQs and the world's busiest transshipment port.
Largest ASEAN economy by GDP and population, leader in nickel, digital startups and consumer markets.
Manufacturing powerhouse for autos and electronics, regional tourism and agri-export leader.
Fastest-growing major ASEAN economy, key beneficiary of China+1 manufacturing shifts.
Youthful demographics, services-led growth, BPO and remittance backbone of Southeast Asia.
Energy-rich micro-state diversifying into halal industries, Islamic finance and downstream petrochemicals.
Garment exports, tourism rebound, and rising FDI from China, Korea and Japan.
Hydropower exporter and emerging logistics corridor via the China-Laos Railway.
Resource-rich frontier market navigating political and sanctions risk.
ASEAN's newest member, oil-and-gas dependent and pursuing economic diversification.
Trackers
Inbound foreign direct investment announcements, approvals and realised flows across ASEAN.
Hyperscale, colocation and AI-ready data centre projects coming online in Southeast Asia.
AI infrastructure, model deployments, sovereign AI policy and enterprise adoption across ASEAN.
Bilateral trade flows, FTAs, tariff actions and supply-chain shifts shaping the region.
Rail, ports, power, water and connectivity projects underwriting the next decade of growth.
Conversations with the people shaping Southeast Asia.
Founders, ministers, investors, diplomats and business leaders, in long form.