Reid Kirchenbauer, the founder of InvestAsian wrote there is a need to look at countries on an individual basis and invest them based on the potential.
Not their size or ability to fit into an acronym.
He said that because, in his point of view, the best countries to invest are always changing.
Thailand developed quickly during the 1990s. Soon afterwards, Vietnam saw its own phase of rapid progress in the 2000s.
Both have since slowed down a lot though. Granted, they’re still growing faster than most of the world. The Vietnam and Thai economies are now rising by around 5% and 3% per year respectively.
Not so bad, yet far from Vietnam and Thailand’s former rates which often exceeded 7%.
As we're now heading into a new year after a very eventful 2017, the dynamics of this region too are always changing.
He listed three best countries to invest in Asia for next year, and herewith are his reasons:
MALAYSIA
Malaysian assets are selling at a steep discount, despite a generally strong economy, because of several reasons.
First off, the nation’s currency is near its lowest level in decades. Exchanging foreign currency into Malaysian ringgit and buying local assets is a better deal than ever before.
Second, prime real estate in Malaysia is among Asia’s least expensive. You can buy a condo in Kuala Lumpur’s city center for under $3,000 per square meter – even cheaper than less-developed cities like Hanoi or Manila.
Furthermore, Malaysia is the only place in Asia where foreigners can buy land on a freehold basis. Plenty of countries (such as the other two on this list) let you own a condo unit as a foreigner… but not landed houses.
These factors certainly make Malaysia one of the best counties to invest in for 2018. However, the ringgit already started appreciating in value. It probably won’t stay at a historically low rate for much longer.
CAMBODIA
Cambodia is one of Asia’s least developed countries but among its fastest growing too. This small nation in the heart of Indochina progressed rapidly over the past few decades and is now open for business.
Like many other frontier markets, Cambodia has a track record of avoiding recession. They skipped the 2008 Financial Crisis, the tech bubble of the early 2000s, along with the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997.
Meanwhile, Cambodia barely slowed down at all. Their economy maintained growth rates exceeding 7% the whole time.
The nation’s story of progress still continues to this day. Expats who have lived in Southeast Asia for decades are saying Phnom Penh looks similar to Bangkok during the 1980s.
Every sign, from tourist arrival numbers to demographics, is showing that Cambodia will tread a path similar to its more developed neighbors too.
Chinese investors are building hotels which approach full-occupancy. The Japanese government is financing railways and roads. Institutions like the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and IMF predict growth of around 7% until at least 2020.
Better yet, pro-business laws and lax foreign ownership restrictions mean investing in Cambodia is easier than practically anywhere else in Asia.
PHILIPPINES
Don’t let global press coverage over their drug war fool you: The Philippine economy remains strong. Their GDP rose by an impressive 6.9% last year, tying with Cambodia as the fastest growing country in Southeast Asia.
Perhaps more importantly, the Philippines has a perk which few other places do. They boast a large pool of low-cost labor which isn’t just skilled and tech-savvy, but also fluent in English.
Tech and outsourcing firms, among countless other businesses, are expanding into the Philippines as a result. Microsoft and Google are among the nation’s biggest foreign investors. Of course, regulars like Coca-Cola, P&G, and Nestle are well-established too.
Source :InvestAsian.com
