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's AI Adoption Tests an ASEAN Approach to Sovereignty
Thailand's plan to use AI in state agencies is an early test of ASEAN's capacity to build sovereign digital infrastructure, not just sovereign AI models.
MalaysiaMalaysia's Export-Led Growth and China's Gravity
Malaysia's surprising export-led GDP growth highlights its deep economic links with China, a structural reality that requires careful management to maintain strategic flexibility.
SingaporeSingapore Tightens Transshipment Rules Under US Pressure
Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry will now require firms transhipping goods to declare their true country of origin, a move that highlights the institutional challenges for ASEAN in managing US-China trade tensions.
Cosco Shipping's Expansion Plans Spotlight ASEAN's Logistical Gaps
The Singapore-based logistics firm's planned investments in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia reflect a broader regional need for more reliable and integrated infrastructure to support growing trade volumes.
MalaysiaThe Unseen Infrastructure: State Capacity and Friction in Penang
Minor roadworks in Penang are a small-scale test of state capacity. The real measure of infrastructure is not the announcement, but the execution.
SingaporeSingapore, State Capacity, and the Usable State
Following a successful pilot, Singapore's revitalization of its Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and Robertson Quay precincts continues. This demonstrates a core theme of ASEAN Rising: state capacity is a source of comparative advantage.
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.