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
IndonesiaIndonesia Rethinks Its Investment Climate
Recent news of significant offshore investment by a prominent Indonesian family highlights the institutional challenges that can limit the country's ability to absorb domestic and foreign capital.
ThailandThailand's EV Tax Shift: A Test of Institutional Execution
Thailand's auto sector is calling for clarity on a revised EV tax policy. The debate shows how a nation's industrial policy framework can determine whether announced foreign investment becomes realised economic value.
SingaporeThe Infrastructure Layer of Sovereign AI in ASEAN
Sovereign AI in ASEAN will be tested not by model launches but by who controls the compute, the data layer and the digital identity rails that sit underneath everyday economic life.
VietnamVietnam's AI Ambition Meets the Sovereignty Test
Vietnam's new $3.5 billion data centre plan shows how its digital economy strategy is evolving, but the project's multinational nature puts the focus on the core challenge of sovereign AI: who controls the infrastructure, data, and identity rails?
MalaysiaSovereign AI in ASEAN is about more than models
Sovereign AI in ASEAN will be tested not by model launches but by who controls the compute, the data layer and the digital identity rails that sit underneath everyday economic life.
PhilippinesVisa's Philippine Expansion Signals More Than Growth
When a global firm like Visa expands its footprint in the Philippines, it reflects a broader narrative about the country's improving business environment and institutional reliability.
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.