Asia - Business Pulse
Stay ahead with curated insights from across Asia’s markets. From economic shifts and policy updates to industry trends and investment signals, we bring you the week’s most relevant news, all in one place. Updated daily on our site and delivered weekly to your inbox.
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Sept 5,2025
OpenAI to open massive new data centre in India
The ChatGPT maker is reportedly scouting for local partners to set up the facility
Alvarez & Marsal to triple global capability centre headcount in India
A&M's Indian global centres work with nearly 30 of its units across six continents
The Government of India has announced sweeping Next-Gen GST reforms
This landmark move to empower small businesses, and boost India’s self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat launched by the PM
Japan to invest 10T Yen in India over next decade
Modi and Ishiba launch initiatives in AI, semiconductors, carbon markets, and green energy to deepen economic and security ties
Economists raise Singapore’s 2025 growth outlook to 2.4%
The improved outlook came on the back of better full-year prospects for Singapore’s manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade sectors
Malaysia Secured RM190B In Hi-Tech investment
The country is focusing on attracting high-impact investments in the technology sector including AI and renewable energy
The Philippines’ general insurance industry is forecast to grow
General Insurance Report projects the market will reach $2.7B in 2025, supported by strong demand for comprehensive insurance products
Aug 29,2025
Trump's doubling of tariffs hits India, damaging ties
U.S.-India two-way goods trade totaled $129B in 2024, with a $45.8B U.S. trade deficit
Fitch keeps India rating, flags high debt, US tariff risks
The agency expects India's economy to grow at 6.5% in real terms in financial year 2026, unchanged from 2025. U.S. tariffs pose "a moderate downside risk" to this forecast
Papa John's to re-enter India with plan for 650 pizza stores
Papa John's will begin its expansion in Bengaluru, tailoring its menu to local tastes while competing with established players
Thai exports beat forecast in July but growth to slow due to tariffs
Exports are expected to slow in the remaining five months of the year after importers made their purchases earlier to mitigate the impact of US tariffs
Taiwan’s manufacturing index ends 5-month slide
It attributed the rebound to easing tariff fears, stabilized exchange rates, and signs of relief from China’s industrial overcapacity
Vietnam touts $48B in project investments to spur growth
The nation has been stepping up a drive to achieve its GDP growth target of at least 8% this year despite global uncertainties
Aug 22,2025
India's GDP growth projected at 6.7% in Q1 FY2026
This exceeds the RBI's 6.5% estimate. Services are expected to rise.
JSW Steel and South Korea's POSCO explore setting up steel plant in India
Key locations being considered for the 6 million tonne per annum (MTPA) capacity plant
Taiwan raises 2025 GDP growth forecast
Likely to be slow next year amid concern about higher tariffs and uncertain U.S. trade relations
Sri Lanka's central bank expects economy to grow by 4.5% in 2025
This projection is above World Bank estimates of 3.5% growth for this year
Indonesia's central bank surprises with rate cut
Makes it it's fifth rate cut since September, taking it to its lowest level since late 2022
Netflix’s US$200M Thailand play marks big Asia content push
The push aligns with Bangkok’s goal to generate S$160B in income and create 20M jobs in the creative economy
Aug 14,2025
India, Russia-led EAEU agree on FTA terms
The pact aims to expand market access, boost MSME exports, and strengthen trade ties as bilateral trade hit $69B in 2024
India’s services PMI at 11-month high on strong demand
New work orders coming from Asia, Canada, Europe, the UAE and the U.S
Singapore’s key exports up 7.1% in Q2
Front-loading activity ahead of the US’ president Donald Trump’s tariffs is expected to taper off in the coming months
Malaysia’s YTL Power and Nvidia forge RM10B partnership
The strategic partnership is to develop AI infrastructure project powered by green energy in Malaysia
Tariff heat sees Europe boost focus on Vietnam
The push is fueled by geopolitical tensions and US President Donald Trump’s tariff package
Chinese investors eyeing Indonesia to avoid US tariffs
The 19% U.S. tariff rate for goods from Indonesia is the same as for Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, and just below Vietnam's 20%
Thailand plans 18.5B Baht stimulus spending
The government has about 25B Baht of funds to use to mitigate the impact of US tariffs
Aug 8,2025
India's electronics exports jump over 47% to $12.4B in Q1 FY26
The country's electronics exports stood at $8.43B in the April-June period last year
India's services exports rise 12% in June 2025, imports 5%
The value of services exports stood at $32.11B in June 2025, reflecting a 12.0% growth
Thailand’s economy is expected to grow 1.8 to 2.2% this year
This is higher than a previous forecast after the US lowered its tariff rate to 19% on imported goods from the country
Singapore factory activity slips into contraction but electronics PMI maintains growth
Economists say that the divergence reflects the uncertainty caused by the US tariffs
Trump doubles tariffs on India to 50%, but offers 21 days window for negotiations
US tariff on India now highest in the world; China at 30% & Pakistan at 19%
China's exports climbed 7.2% in July in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier
Imports rose 4.1% last month from a year earlier, marking the biggest jump since July 2024
Indonesia’s Economy Grows 5.12% in Q2 2025
This figure reflects a continued national economic recovery despite various domestic and global pressures
Vietnam’s economic indicators continued to show clear signs of improvement
Aug 1,2025
India and the UK have signed CETA
Eliminates tariffs on 99% of India's exports, covering nearly 100% of the trade value
IMF raises India’s FY26 growth forecast to 6.4%
This brings the IMF forecast in closer alignment with the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 6.5% growth
India's steel and cement sectors saw the strongest growth
Index of eight core industries grows at three-month high of 1.7% in June
Singapore’s manufacturing output increased 8.0% in June 2025
Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output increased 8.2%
Malaysia’s data center boom set to create over 30,000 jobs
Investment in the industry is projected to rise 185% from 2023 to 2025
Malaysia’s YTL Power and Nvidia forge $3B green AI infrastructure partnership
Project includes the development of AI data centres, deployment of Nvidia’s high-performance GPUs, and the creation of Malaysia’s own sovereign LLM
Indonesia is set to complete its first national AI strategy
The strategy aims to attract foreign investment and enhance the country’s role in the global AI and semiconductor industries
July 25,2025
Indian fintech firm Paytm swings to profit
They posted a net profit of $14.24M driven by robust growth in its lending business
India joins global top 10 tech markets, tops In talent pool
Its top six cities makes the top 10 list for tech talent acquisition in APAC
India's infrastructure output accelerates to three-month high
The index rose at a revised 1.2%, compared to the initial estimate of 0.7%
India’s electronics exports surge 47% in Q1 FY26
Testifies to the accelerated role India is assuming in global electronics supply chains
Singapore’s NUS Enterprise invests S$150M to launch venture capital programme
Focus is on accelerating post-seed growth and preparing ventures for external capital
Singapore key exports jump 13% in June
NODX contraction in May was revised lower to 3.9%
Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment held steady at 3.5%
The continued expansion of the Hong Kong economy should provide support to the labor market
Taiwan plans "Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects" initiative, aimed at generating $510+B
It has identified three core technologies as strategic priorities: silicon photonics, quantum technology and AI robotics
July 18,2025
India's retail inflation eases to 6-year low of 2.1% in June
Wholesale prices turned to deflation for the first time in 20 months aided by sustained decline in food, fuel and energy prices
Temasek's $10B investment strategy in India
Temasek is actively pursuing investment opportunities in India with its portfolio value reaching $50B
India's quick commerce orders double to ₹64,000Cr in FY25
The sharp increase is due to increased platform fees, overall increase in GOV and changing preferences of consumers
Vietnam’s economy soars to 7.52% in the first half of 2025
It is its highest pace in over a decade, on the back of strong exports and despite global uncertainties
China’s economy slows as consumers tighten belts, US tariff risks mount
Analysts warn that weak demand at home and rising global trade risks will ramp up pressure to roll out more stimulus
Singapore's exports rise 13% in June, stronger than forecast
Singapore's non-oil domestic exports rose 13 per cent in June from the same month a year earlier
Chinese investment into Malaysia surged to RM31B last year
2025 is anticipated to be another strong year projecting at least RM30B in Chinese investment, with battery and solar component plants likely to command a larger share
Korean IT Firms advance sovereign AI with LLMs, challenging global big tech
Companies are focusing on building a domestic sovereign AI ecosystem and seek to be differentiated based on data specialized for Korean users
July 11,2025
India services sector growth hits 10-month high as demand surges
India's services sector enjoyed its strongest growth in ten months in June, fueled by robust demand and cooling price pressures
India renewable power output grows at fastest pace
Renewable power output jumped 24.4% to 134.43 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) for January - June 2025
India to woo foreign copper miners, expand ties
India unveiled a series of steps to increase copper output, including encouraging foreign firms to set up smelters and refineries in the country
World Bank sees more monetary easing in Thailand
Falling inflationary pressures may also open up room for further easing
DSV's new RedLion2 logistics hub expected to boost Singapore-Johor connectivity
It will work in tandem with Danish company’s Sunway City warehouse in Johor
Malaysia's data center dreams hit by tariffs, chip ban fears, trade tensions
Rising electricity tariffs and the proposed US ban on AI chip exports force hyperscale operators to reassess the country’s value proposition as a digital investment hub
July 4,2025
Asian markets in full swing as investors shake off trade jitters
The rebound from the depths of the April market turmoil has been impressive
Indian drone startup Raphe mPhibr has raised $100M
The startup aims to boost its R&D and local production capabilities amid growing demand
Walmart is committed to sourcing $10B worth of goods from India
The retail giant is actively working with local suppliers to meet this target by 2027
With $232B worth of deals in H12025, Japan is driving Asia's M&A rebound
Bankers expect the trend to sustain fueled by multi-billion dollar take-private arrangements, outbound investments and private equity activity
Facing global headwinds, Chinese automakers make a play for Africa
Restrictions on exports to the US and Europe send them on a global quest for new markets
The insurance sector in China could register a compound annual growth rate of 8.8%
Growth is supported by rising income levels, improving financial literacy, and increasing awareness
Indonesia recorded a hefty trade surplus of $4.3B in May
This marks a sharp rebound from the modest monthly surplus in April of around $160M
June 27,2025
India’s economy holds its ground
Domestic inflation remains benign with headline inflation remaining below the target for the fourth consecutive month in May
World Bank approves $2.1B investment to Indonesia
The two major investment packages are to support job creation, economic growth, and the expansion of clean energy access across Indonesia
Blackstone’s ASK plans to hire 70 wealth bankers in India
The rise of wealthy Indians across the country has sparked the creation of many new firms competing to manage their money
Amazon will invest $233M in 2025 to enhance its India operations network
This new investment was in addition to Amazon’s existing investments in creating an operations network
Cognizant to invest $183M for new India campus
The move aligns with Cognizant’s strategy to optimize, while investing in tier-2 Indian cities
Global trading giants step up India presence, fueling talent rush
Citadel Securities and IMC Trading to Millennium and Optiver, are ratcheting up their presence in India's booming derivatives markets
June 20, 2025
Indonesia and Singapore sign cross-border power deal
Agreement includes electricity exports, investment in solar projects
Oil demand to peak by 2029, despite China's EV push
IEA attributes this sustained consumption to factors such as lower gasoline prices and a slower rate of electric vehicle adoption in the US
Indonesia’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged
The country is pausing its cuts to support the rupiah in the face of the global trade war and growing conflicts in the Middle East
Vietnam remains a magnet for foreign investment
It is bolstered by competitive policy incentives, upgraded infrastructure, and its pivotal role in global supply chain diversification
OnePlus begins production of IoT devices
Optiemus Electronics has partnered with OnePlus to locally manufacture premium IoT devices in India
Gems, jewelry exports down
Down 15.81% to $2263M in May 2025 compared to $2688.38M during the same period of May 2024
India's trade deficit eases to $21.9B
Lower crude prices and stronger services exports support improvement; however geopolitical tensions could reverse gains via oil and supply chain shocks
SEZ reforms in India to boost semiconductor and electronics manufacturing
They are expected to address the sector’s capital-intensive nature and long gestation periods, while reducing import dependency
June 12, 2025
India’s GCCs are emerging as strategic nerve center
GCCs are driving product innovation, global go-to-market capabilities, and AI breakthroughs across industries.
India's AI industry is set to triple to $17B by 2027
This is fueled by enterprise adoption and a burgeoning talent pool, second only to the US
S&P predicts Indian companies' total spending to hit $850B by 2030
Indian companies are driven by strong economic momentum, lean balance sheets, and favorable policy support
India is aiming to increase its share of manufacturing
India is aiming to increase the share of manufacturing in the country's GDP and Sweden is a partner in this endeavor.
Japan wholesale inflation slows
Inflation slowed in May on falling import costs for raw materials, taking some pressure off the central bank to raise interest rates.
DBS and UOB have jointly provided a S$530M loan facility
Amid South-east Asia’s rising demand for data centre computing power, DBS, UOB back 6.7 trillion rupiah loan facility for data centre campus in Batam
Vietnam advances plans for international financial centre
Vietnam is moving to enhance its role in the global financial market and attract international capital flow
June 7, 2025
Apple and Alibaba's AI rollout in China delayed by Trump's trade war
A delay in the rollout of the features could prove costly for Apple, which is facing declining iPhone sales
India is a 'focus' market for Swedish giant IKEA
IKEA is increasing sourcing for its global operations and increasing local sourcing to 50%
Singapore and Philippines to expand collaboration
It is a partnership in renewable energy, sustainability and healthcare nurtured over the decades
Real wages in Singapore up 3.2% in 2024
However real wages could slow down in 2025 due to ongoing global trade uncertainties
South Korea Q1 GDP -0.2% q/q
GDP was steady from a year earlier, marginally revised from a fall of 0.1% estimated in April
Sanofi exploring vaccine production in Vietnam
The plant is projected to produce 100 million vaccine doses annually for domestic use and export
June 2, 2025
India & US may finalize interim trade deal shortly
Ahead of Donald Trump's tariff deadline, a bilateral trade agreement between US and India could be sealed
India's first AI-focused SEZ is set to come up
A facility equipped with advanced servers and systems capable of powering AI technologies and large-scale digital operations and is envisioned as a digital nerve center for India
Indian government eases port restriction to enhance trade
Easing port norms will enhance the export of leather from the country and enhance ease of doing business in India
Singapore maintains 2025 growth forecast at 0-2%
The Ministry of Trade and Industry cautioned that the global economic outlook "remains clouded by significant uncertainty
Korea Telecom proposes global development center in Vietnam
The group's plan is to develop AI human resources for the Southeast Asian market
Thailand government seeks to support a sluggish economy facing steep US tariffs
Thailand PM proposed a 3.78 trillion baht (S$149B) budget to parliament for the 2026 fiscal year
