For years, Western observers have talked about Asia’s massive future potential. But the future arrived even faster than expected. The question is no longer how quickly Asia will rise; it is how Asia will lead.
Asia’s future is now
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Asia is on track to top 50 percent of global GDP by 2040 and drive 40 percent of the world’s consumption, representing a real shift in the world’s center of gravity.
Report
China and the world: Inside the dynamics of a changing relationship
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The relationship between China and the rest of the world is changing, and a great deal of value could be at stake depending on whether there is more or less engagement. Businesses will need to adjust to the uncertainty ahead.
Countries and regions
Interviews
Voices on the future of Asia
McKinsey leaders from across the region discuss the forces, opportunities and challenges that are shaping the future of Asia.
Video
How Asia is shaping the next phase of globalization
Kevin Sneader, global managing partner of McKinsey, describes how movement of goods, capital and people within Asia is changing the pattern of global flows.
Video
How firms should respond to shifting trends in global economic profits
Chris Bradley, senior partner based in our Sydney office and co-author of the latest Future of Asia article, describes the changing course of global economic profits and movement of capital – and how firms in Asia should seize on the opportunities created by these changes.
Video
How firms can capitalize on the major forces shaping China through 2030
Joe Ngai, senior partner and managing partner of McKinsey Greater China, discusses the biggest trends in China that will shape the corporate landscape through 2030.
Video
How Asian firms can create value
Ben Stretch, associate partner in our Sydney office and co-author of our latest Future of Asia article, highlights the huge wave of capital investment that has helped vault corporate Asia onto the global stage. But, despite the growth in scale, economic returns have failed to accompany this influx of new capital into the region. This is the paradox of corporate Asia.
Trade and network flows in Asia
The rise of regional value chains
As consumption rises, more of what gets made in Asia is sold in Asia instead of being exported to the West. Countries and companies have an opportunity to rethink their roles in deepening regional value chains and trade flows.
Asia’s share of global trade has increased dramatically. Trade ties and cooperation within the region are also intensifying as companies build self-contained regional supply chains to satisfy rising domestic demand.
Discussion Paper - MGI Research
The future of Asia: Asian flows and networks are defining the next phase of globalization
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The Asian Century has begun. Asia is the world’s largest regional economy and, as its economies integrate further, it has the potential to fuel and shape the next phase of globalization.
Report - MGI Research
Globalization in transition: The future of trade and value chains
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Global value chains are being reshaped by rising demand and new industry capabilities in the developing world as well as a wave of new technologies.
Discussion Paper - MGI Research
Outperformers: Maintaining ASEAN countries’ exceptional growth
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Almost half of the emerging economies that grew quickly and consistently in recent decades are in Southeast Asia. The challenges now are to maintain that momentum as circumstances change and to curb income inequality.
Companies in Asia
New players, new playbooks
Asian firms have risen to market leadership not only in industrial and automotive sectors but also in areas such as technology, finance, and logistics. Yet their ownership structures, growth strategies, and operating styles are often very different from those of Western rivals.
Asia is home to more than 40% of the 5,000 largest global firms. Once dominated by Japan, the list of big Asian companies now includes firms not only from China, Korea and India but also from emerging economies including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan.
Podcast
Getting the measure of corporate Asia
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Over the past decade, Asia received half of all new investment in the global economy. Despite pockets of excellence, Asian companies have struggled to deliver strong returns on this influx of capital.
Article
Corporate Asia: A capital paradox
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Asian corporations now account for 43 percent of the world’s largest 5,000 companies, contributing $19 trillion in revenue to the world economy every year. But has this growth come at a cost?
Report
Bracing for consolidation in Asia–Pacific banking: The quest for scale
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To emerge from a period of potential consolidation, Asia’s banks must reinvent themselves or risk disappearing.
Technology and digital in Asia
From imitation to rapid innovation
Asia is shaping the future of digital innovation globally. From online commerce and mobile payments to robotics and smart cities, the region is taking a leading role in the development and deployment of new technology.
Already home to more than half the world’s internet users, Asia has emerged as a leading source and destination for venture funding in fields such as virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence.
Article
Winning in a world of ecosystems
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For traditional firms seeking to elevate their digital footprint, ecosystems represent an opportunity to boost growth, performance, and outshine competitors. Here's a look at what ecosystems can offer.
Report - MGI Research
Digital India: Technology to transform a connected nation
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Indian consumers have strongly embraced digital technologies. Now India’s companies must follow suit.
Report
Australia’s automation opportunity: Reigniting productivity and inclusive income growth
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Automation and artificial intelligence present an enormous opportunity for national and personal income growth and could add up to $4 trillion to Australia’s economy.
Consumers in Asia
Engine of consumption growth
The growing Asian middle class will soon be three billion strong. However, the region’s consumers are as diverse as they are powerful. Whether they are Asian or Western, brands need highly targeted strategies to succeed across such a diverse and fragmented region.
Asia will fuel half of all the consumption growth expected worldwide over the course of the next decade. Consumer markets are changing rapidly as millions of consumers move beyond basic purchases and start to explore personal indulgences, fashion and style.
Article
Asia’s Generation Z comes of age
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The youngest generation of Asian consumers is becoming a force.
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China consumer report 2020: The many faces of the Chinese consumer
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Five trends emerged in the latest research from our Chinese Consumer Survey, offering insight into what over 5,000 consumers in the region think about spending, brands, health, and more.
Article
How consumer-goods companies can win in Southeast Asia
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Disciplined spending, stronger partnerships with retailers and distributors, and cross-functional collaboration set winners apart. But all companies in the region need to step up their game in digitization and analytics.
Banking in Asia
Reinvention in progress
Asia is the world's largest regional banking market and a leader in financial innovation. With growth slowing, banks across the region are embarking on radical transformations.
Report
The next frontier in Asia payments
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Five fundamental themes are reshaping Asia’s payments landscape, requiring a swift response—and in some cases, self-reinvention—from players across the value chain.
Article
Asia wealth management post-COVID-19: Adapting and thriving in an uncertain world
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Asia’s wealth managers—new entrants and incumbents alike—must reinvent themselves as agile and flexible organizations in order to succeed for the long term once the pandemic is past.
Report
How Asia is reinventing banking for the digital age
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The West has led the world’s banking industry in growth and innovation, but now Asia is tilting the scales. As the pace of growth slows, Asia’s banks must reinvent themselves to survive.
Video
The future of banking in ASEAN
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Tengku Zafrul Aziz, group chief executive officer and executive director of CIMB Group Holdings, discusses the challenges to traditional banking in Southeast Asia and how banks can adapt.
Article
Engaging customers: The evolution of Asia–Pacific digital banking
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Consumers across the region are adopting digital banking. Our latest study finds banks must act quickly to take full advantage.
Article
Reaching Asia’s digital banking customers
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Asia’s banking customers are migrating to digital channels in force. The challenge for the region’s banks is to deliver superior digital experiences before competitors do.
Article
Lessons from Asian banks on their coronavirus response
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Financial institutions in countries initially affected by the pandemic moved quickly to safeguard their employees, transform their operations, and serve customers in new ways.
Video
Asia’s opportunity for growth in banking
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Asia is the world center for banking growth, with consumer finance at the forefront.
Article
How digital and advanced analytics can boost growth in Asian insurance
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Asian insurers have achieved remarkable growth in recent years, but disruptors are looming. To maintain their momentum, these insurers must ramp up their digital and advanced analytics capabilities.