Global economies are entering a period of profound transformation marked by persistent disruptions, rising uncertainty, and deep structural shifts. Seventy-two percent of chief economists expect global conditions to weaken over the next year as trade tensions, supply chain realignments, and rapid AI development reshape markets.

Indonesia is expected to enter the final quarter of 2025 with cautious optimism, as the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) faces a volatile environment shaped by both global and domestic factors.

Indonesia’s implementation of the Online Single Submission (OSS) system has significantly improved the country’s business licensing environment by streamlining regulatory procedures and reducing barriers for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which are central to its rapidly growing digital economy.

Thailand offers a dynamic business environment marked by its strategic geographic position, well-developed infrastructure, and supportive investment policies. The country provides multiple pathways for establishing entities, backed by government incentives that promote foreign direct investment across priority sectors.

Chief People Officers are playing an increasingly strategic role in driving business resilience, transformation, and growth. While short-term labour markets show caution due to economic volatility, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological shifts, the longer-term focus is on workforce transformation and organizational adaptability.

Indonesia’s content moderation framework, under MOCI Regulation No. 5/2020 and refined by Decree No. 522/2024, faces criticism for its opaque enforcement, broad legal definitions, and potential for overreach, which could stifle free expression. The introduction of the SAMAN system adds new moderation measures at a time when the country’s startup ecosystem is struggling, with investments plummeting from USD 10.9 billion in 2021 to USD 800 million in 2024.

Indonesia holds significant potential to enhance food and nutrition security through greater integration of blue foods—nutrient-rich aquatic plants and animals—into its food system. Despite being the second-largest fish producer globally and leading ASEAN in production value, the country struggles with underutilization of marine-based food resources due to challenges in infrastructure, distribution, and policy coherence. Small-scale fisheries dominate the sector but face high post-harvest losses and limited access to markets.

In a world increasingly rocked by trade tensions, geopolitical unease, and climate shocks, the World Bank’s April 2025 Commodity Markets