Asia Opportunities (2024)

FAQs

Why is Asia important to the world? ›

Asia is home to the world's earliest civilizations. Its indigenous cultures pioneered many practices that have been integral to societies for centuries, such as agriculture, city planning, and religion. The social and political geography of the continent continues to inform and influence the rest of the world.

ASEAN's demographics are ripe with opportunity – there is a growing middle class, a very high percentage of the population is of working age and domestic consumption is on the rise. GDP per capita is projected to grow 6.5% from 2017 – 2021, with disposable incomes to rise up to 10%.

It remains the growth engine of the world. It's an important part of global supply chains. Asia has innovation and growing consumption and it is increasingly important as a trade area itself.

New income opportunities

Improving corporate governance and stronger management focus on shareholder returns are also supporting higher dividend payouts, making Asia an increasingly important source of income for global investors.

Asia has both the highest and the lowest points on the surface of Earth, has the longest coastline of any continent, is subject overall to the world's widest climatic extremes, and, consequently, produces the most varied forms of vegetation and animal life on Earth.

As the largest, most populous continent and rich in resources, Asia is home to several of the world's oldest civilizations, that produced the majority of the great religious systems, the oldest known recorded myths and codices on ethics and morality.

Asia's robust economic growth and its position as the world's manufacturing and trade hub give it a critical global role. Asia accounted for 57 percent of global GDP growth between 2015 and 2021. In 2021, Asia contributed 42 percent of world GDP (at purchasing power parity), more than any other region.

Asia is the world's largest regional economy and, as its economies integrate further, it has the potential to fuel and shape the next phase of globalization. Asia is increasingly the center of the world economy.

Among the many reasons suggested to account for the East Asian success, the investment rate and the export orientation of these economies enjoy enthusiastic support. These are often called "engines of growth" because their strength seems to be pulling the whole economy forward.

Asian countries rank as some of the top producers of many agricultural, forest, fishing, mining, and industrial products. This increased production has brought both extreme wealth and negative environmental impacts to the continent. Asia's vast area allows for varied and extreme climates.

Why is Asia good for business? ›

Asia Has a Large Market of Consumers

It's also very much a connected population, full of consumers interested in everything from tech to fashion. So another potential benefit for businesses is that the market is already established, with a diverse selection of consumers ready to connect with new companies.

Asia extracts an immense wealth of minerals, of which its mineral fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas—are of greatest value. The largest Asian coal producers are China and Russia (Siberia), followed by India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.

Asia's history features major developments seen in other parts of the world, as well as events that have affected those other regions. These include the trade of the Silk Road, which spread cultures, languages, religions, and diseases throughout Afro-Eurasian trade.

Asia is home to the majority of the world's population. The peoples of Asia have produced some of the world's most ancient and sophisticated cultures, many of which continue to thrive in the 21st century. Today Asia plays a major role in shaping the global environment—economic, political, natural—that we all share.

Asia is the world's largest regional economy and, as its economies integrate further, it has the potential to fuel and shape the next phase of globalization. Asia is increasingly the center of the world economy.