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
MyanmarMyanmar and ASEAN: The Civil Service Imperative
The recent meeting between ASEAN's Secretary-General and Myanmar's Union Civil Service Board chairman puts the spotlight back on the foundational role of state capacity in delivering on ASEAN's goals. For Myanmar, a functioning civil service is the bedrock of economic recovery.
ThailandThailand's AI Ambition Meets the Talent Test
Thailand aims to be a leading AI market in Asia, but turning investment announcements into reality will depend on closing a significant talent gap.
MyanmarMyanmar Pushes Dawei Port, But Execution Risk Looms
Myanmar has revived the long-stalled Dawei deep-sea port project, a strategic link to Thailand. Yet the project's history shows that announcements are easy, but execution is hard.
PhilippinesThe Philippines' FDI challenge is execution, not attraction
Manila has a long history of attracting world-class companies. But turning announcements into realised investment depends on the slow work of improving infrastructure, institutions and talent.
ThailandThailand's New Nestlé Hub: A Test of Institutional Capacity
A USD 688 million investment in a coffee hub is a win for Thailand. But turning that headline into a reality depends on the slower, harder work of execution.
VietnamVietnam Re-engineers Its FDI Policy
Vietnam is overhauling its foreign direct investment incentives, shifting from a long standing reliance on tax breaks to a more direct, cost-based support system. The new policy aims to attract high-quality capital into strategic sectors by focusing on tangible needs like.
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.