Indonesia’s healthcare industry is a lucrative investment opportunity for foreign investors as the growth of its middle-class and the introduction of universal healthcare has driven demand in almost all aspects of the industry from hospitals to pharmaceuticals to medical devices.
Vietnam has managed to contain COVID-19, lifting social isolation measures and reopening the economy, allowing businesses to resume.
COVID-19 has slowed global trade and disrupted supply chains, starting in China – the “factory of the world” – and resulting in a ripple effect as businesses struggle to source raw inputs. This has had short-term impacts on Vietnam, like everywhere else, but the country is strongly positioned for a rebound as economies restart.
As world-wide business activity comes to a standstill and Covid-19 dominates global headlines, it is easy to overlook other developments and business deals that are still ongoing.
Indonesia confirmed its first Covid-19 case on March 2 and now has the highest fatality toll from the disease in Southeast Asia – and second only to China in Asia – meaning the country now faces its biggest political and economic challenge since the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.
Myanmar is one of the least prepared countries in Southeast to handle the Covid-19 pandemic and country-wide spread will almost certainly be exacerbated by the recent return of thousands of migrant workers from Thailand. Longer term, the country still has much in its favor.
As Covid-19 dominates global headlines, it is easy to lose track of other news and developments. Here are some of the issues that Access Asia Group has been following in Southeast Asia under the shadow of Covid-19.
It is too soon to say whether Vietnam – or indeed anywhere – has dodged the covid-19 bullet. But, in terms of infection caseloads, the nation of some 90 million is containing numbers better than anywhere in the region on a per-capita basis.