Global growth is holding up better than expected, supported by front-loaded trade, strong AI-related investment, and generally easier financial conditions, yet momentum is set to soften as higher tariffs, persistent policy uncertainty, and easing labour markets gradually weigh on demand.

Thai–Cambodian border relations remain shaped by rigid, state-centric assumptions that frame borders as fixed, elite-controlled spaces—an approach that fuels recurring tensions, including the Preah Vihear dispute and the 2025 clashes.

Indonesia stands at a pivotal moment in the global AI race, where its tech-savvy population and rapidly rising adoption rates position the country to unlock major economic gains—potentially boosting GDP per capita growth by 14% and generating trillions of rupiah in efficiency savings.

ASEAN in 2025 is navigating a convergence of geopolitical rivalry, shifting trade dynamics, and accelerating energy transition, while integrating new members and responding to internal crises.

ASEAN stands at a pivotal moment as global interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) accelerates, with most central banks worldwide now conducting experiments or pilots.

Developing Asia’s path to high-income status will hinge on sustained productivity growth and large-scale private investment, which are expected to raise domestic real interest rates and drive capital flows funded mainly by domestic savings but still dependent on global markets.

AI’s growing role in strategic foresight is reshaping how experts anticipate and prepare for multiple plausible futures, as shown by insights from 167 practitioners across 55 countries who increasingly rely on AI to accelerate trend analysis, scenario development and the identification of emerging issues.

Thailand and China are poised to open a new chapter in their long-standing friendship as King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida embark on a historic state visit to China—the first by a Thai monarch since diplomatic ties were established in 1975.

Indonesia’s move to recognise the United States as an adequate jurisdiction for personal data protection—made through a new trade deal and implemented before its own Personal Data Protection Authority and adequacy criteria are in place—raises concerns over legal legitimacy, regulatory preparedness, and data security.

Thailand’s tax-incentivized ESG Fund, introduced in late 2023, reshapes corporate bond pricing by pushing issuance and secondary markets in different directions.

Thai–U.S. relations are navigating a period of adjustment as President Trump’s more transactional “America First” approach intersects with Thailand’s hedging strategy and its recent deepening of ties with China.

ASEAN’s long-standing rotational chairmanship — recently passed from Malaysia to the Philippines — remains central to the bloc’s unity, equitable leadership, and consensus-driven “ASEAN Way.”

Indonesia’s economy is expected to maintain steady momentum through 2025–2026, supported by a stronger-than-anticipated rebound in the second quarter, firmer manufacturing activity, and resilient household spending boosted by seasonal holidays.

Indonesia has outlined its nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and committed to net-zero emissions (NZE) by 2060, prioritizing a shift to renewable energy alongside emissions reductions in forestry.

Indonesia’s livestock industry is emerging as a strategic growth engine in the national development agenda, transitioning from a supplementary role to a key driver of food security, rural development, and export competitiveness.

Pheu Thai Party’s recent gesture of sending birthday greetings to Sondhi Limthongkul — a former archrival and ex-leader of the anti-Thaksin yellowshirt movement — has sparked controversy and accusations of political desperation.

Global financial markets posted strong gains in Q3 2025, powered by surging AI-driven technology demand, solid corporate earnings, and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s anticipated rate cut, which weakened the dollar and supported emerging markets, including Indonesia. Equity markets rallied globally—with the U.S., Japan, and North Asia.

Indonesia’s digital economy has demonstrated a positive and significant impact on economic growth across 34 provinces between 2017 and 2022, as shown through dynamic panel GMM estimation.

Thailand and Cambodia plunged into their deadliest border clashes in decades in July 2025, leaving dozens dead and displacing more than 300,000 people.

Indonesia’s handling of the potential Grab–GoTo merger highlights growing tensions between industrial policy ambitions and competition law in the digital economy.

East Asia and the Pacific’s economic momentum is softening as global growth slows, trade restrictions rise, and domestic uncertainties persist, though the region still outperforms global averages. Industrial output and retail activity remain resilient, yet weak business confidence and fading export orders signal headwinds ahead.

Thailand’s firm-level trade data suggest that regional trade agreements (RTAs) play only a modest role in advancing global value chain development, as imports under RTA regimes show a weak and often insignificant correlation with exports—implying that firms using RTAs tend to focus mainly on domestic markets.

Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2009, are not just stepping into the workforce but rewriting the rules. Over half of them are already harnessing AI tools on the job, giving companies a chance to turbocharge productivity and innovation like never before but there is a flip side. workplace?

As the 47th ASEAN Summit convenes, the region finds itself navigating through global uncertainty— yet the bloc remains remarkably steady.

Southeast Asia is charging ahead in 2025, with the region’s economy powering up on the back of a pre-tariff surge in trade and production. According to McKinsey’s latest Southeast Asia Quarterly Economic Review, Vietnam led the pack with nearly 8 % year-on-year growth—the country’s fastest pace in more than a decade—while other major markets saw solid gains driven by strong exports, industrial output, and resilient consumer spending.

Thailand has introduced the Thailand Taxonomy, a national framework launched in 2025 to classify economic activities based on environmental sustainability and guide the country’s transition toward its 2065 net-zero emissions target.

Thailand’s introduction of the Thai ESG Fund in late 2023 — a tax-incentivized retail investment program — has reshaped the country’s corporate bond market by driving strong investor demand for newly issued ESG bonds.

Indonesia is positioning itself as the most stable gateway to the ASEAN region, with its blue-chip stocks serving as a strong foundation for regional economic growth. Supported by robust domestic consumption, steady government-driven expansion, and consistent corporate performance, companies listed in the LQ45 and IDX30 indices continue to demonstrate resilience amid global uncertainty.

Thailand’s automotive industry is expected to experience flat production growth of around -0.5% to 0.5% annually between 2025 and 2027, pressured by weak domestic demand, declining exports, and global trade risks.

Variations in money velocity play a significant role in shaping inflation dynamics, particularly in economies transitioning toward digital currencies like Indonesia.