Invest in Southeast Asia to step ahead

Explore investment opportunities across the region.

 

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most dynamic regions. Its demographics, economic openness, political stability and ambition will drive global economic growth to 2040 and beyond.

Australia stands to benefit from, and contribute to, Southeast Asia’s growth. To do this, we must increase our share of investment in the region. Australia’s investment has not kept pace with the growth in investment from other countries.

Australian businesses and institutions have the financial strength to support substantial investments and operations in the region.

There are major opportunities for Australian business to:

  • contribute to the region’s infrastructure and green energy transition needs
  • invest in sectors that serve the growing consumer market.

[Michaela Browning, CEO of Asia Pacific, Brunswick Group] So I'm absolutely seized of the opportunity in Southeast Asia and also how important it is for Australia's future.

There's big challenges, but they're also opportunities if you think about the need for decarbonisation across the region, the energy and power needs, which are going to be greater than almost any other region in the world, and the digital transformation which is now being accelerated by AI and what that is doing, including to change the infrastructure needs across the region.

[Mark Burgess, Chair - Investment Committee and Non-Executive Director, Australian Retirement Trust] You've dedicated the time to come up here.

I mean, how did you weigh that up in terms of your personal time to get involved and what sort of message did that send to your team and to other investors?

The fact that someone of your seniority is coming into the region to take a good look?

[Allison Hill, State Chief Investment Officer, QIC] Australia is part of the Southeast Asian region and historically, for a number of reasons, we don't have a lot of exposure to assets in the region and I think that needs to change.

It is a growing region. It's an exciting region.

I think it's something that you can't ignore, but I do think it does take time to get to know the investment opportunities, the risks, the pitfalls, plus all of the upsides that might be there.

You have to travel. You have to get on the ground. You have to spend the time and it is a commitment, but I think it's really important.

Looking forward, I can only see Australian investors having more exposure to this region through time.

[Craig Thorburn, Director - Research and Insights, Future Fund] Come to Southeast Asia. Be here at the ground level and understand the dynamics of the economies and the markets.

[Michaela Browning, CEO of Asia Pacific, Brunswick Group] It's so important to think about local partners, expertise and the sort of support that you can get, including from the government now in thinking afresh about Southeast Asia.

Investment Deal Teams are here to help

Southeast Asia Investment Deal Teams work to increase Australian investment in Southeast Asia.

Their focus is on opportunities in strategic sectors. These sectors include infrastructure, net zero transition, agrifood, health, digital economy and advanced manufacturing.

The teams:

  • identify investment opportunities and support Australian institutional and corporate investors to assess and pursue them
  • work with project proponents to understand current and upcoming projects and where Australian investors can play a role
  • consult with Southeast Asian investors and other international financiers in the region to bring Australian finance into strategic projects.

Southeast Asia Investment Deal Teams:

  • provide market intelligence and information on specific investment opportunities
  • connect investors with potential local partners and service providers
  • support investors as they navigate the regulatory environment
  • connect projects with financing options
  • liaise with host governments in support of Australian investors.

Expertise and locations

The teams draw on the expertise of:

Private sector partners also take part.

Major hubs across Southeast Asia host the teams. Cities in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam host team members. From there, they provide in-market expertise.

Map showing International Deal Teams locations across Southeast Asia. Marked on the map are where teams will be based. These are in major cities in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

We welcome the opportunity to work with:

  • Australian investors to understand investment strategy, interest in Southeast Asia and investment mandates
  • Southeast Asian project proponents, financiers and governments.

Find out how the Investment Deal Teams can help you step ahead in Southeast Asia.

Please fill in our contact form, linked below, and a team member will be in touch.

Australian investors and Southeast Asian project proponents, financiers and governments can complete our contact form to get assistance.

Contact us

[Simon Terry, General Manager Philippines, GHD] GHD is a global professional services company that provides engineering, architectural, environmental advisory and digital services.

In 1998, we commenced operations in the Philippines and have grown a handful of employees to more than a thousand.

Expanding our footprint became essential to diversify market risk.

First, there was low growth in developed economies.

Investing overseas was a way to diversify our revenue stream and reduce dependency on a single region.

In 2020, we expanded our operations to Singapore so we can capitalize on opportunities arising out of strong investment in infrastructure demand across the region.

For 25 years, we've been working with Malad and Manila Water to provide water to the people of Manila.

Renewables are vital to the future energy mix for the Philippines and GHD has been working closely with ACEN in developing new solar and wind farms.

The government provided business incentives to established in the Philippines.

Among all the countries in Asia, the Philippines were selected as the first country invested in because it was a developing economy with a significant need for infrastructure.

There are local clients aligned to GHD's values.

We had access to a skilled workforce, English is widely used in business.

We started our partnership with Austrade before we established our presence in the Philippines.

Austrade gave us early insights into the Philippines market, that helped us navigate the challenge of establishing our business, both from a regulatory aspect and connecting us with partners and clients.

Over the last 25, years we have worked closely with Austrade in a two-way relationship.

GHD has provided market and business insights to Austrade and Austrade has connected GHD to government, partners and clients.

For GHD the obvious outcome has been a growth in revenue with a greater market exposure.

The recent joint declaration of a strategic partnership between the Philippines and Australia has lifted the focus and intensity on trade.

In the Philippines, the average age is 25 years, which means there is a large number of talented individuals being trained by highly reputable institutions.

The skilled resources can fill the ever growing Australian demand for talent.

We're very excited about the strengthening of trade between southeast Asia and Australia.

[Glenn Keys, Founder, Aspen Medical] Aspen Medical is a wholly owned Australian company.

My wife and I founded the company 21 years ago in 2003 here in Canberra.

We now operate in 23 countries around the world with about 6,500 staff.

And we'll provide complete health services as much or as little as a customer needs.

So we can provide the people, the equipment, facilities, pharmaceuticals, consumables, technology, ambulance, aircraft, whatever is required wherever a customer needs us.

So as a company Aspen Medical saw an amazing growth opportunity in Southeast Asia.

Austrade were great support, they connected us with key partners get us in front of the right people, and provided terrific advice. 

We settled on Indonesia, their growth rates are far higher than that of Australia. And quite honestly, they're desperate for the level of product and services that Australia sells.

We have an assignment from the governor of West Java to build 23 hospitals and 650 primary care clinics across West Java, in what will be the biggest Health infrastructure program in Indonesia's history.

We're building our first hospital now at Depok and it will be the first green accredited hospital in Indonesia's history.

I would suggest to Australian companies that are looking to expand into southeast Asia, take the time, do the research, look at the guidance and support provided by by the Australian government through areas like Austrade.

Talk to other people who are up there and get up there on the ground, make connections, meet people and pick one project to start with and grow from there.

Investing in Southeast Asia, getting business for Australian products and services, that's going to grow Australian revenue, grow Australian employment and let us have exports not only into southeast Asia but allow us to grow those exports internationally.


Learn about opportunities in Southeast Asia

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