Thai office space vacancy rate rises 26.3%, Yet Thailand’s richest billionaire optimistic about market demand growth
Bangkok’s office vacancy rate in prime Grade A buildings has soared to 26.3%, reflecting a growing oversupply, but Frasers Property Limited, led by Thailand’s wealthiest scion, is betting on the US-China trade feud to drive demand for office and industrial spaces across Southeast Asia, according to bangkokpost on 19 September 2024. With a US$3.6 billion […]
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Thailand’s USD 6.5 Billion EV Industry Set to Power Commercial Real Estate Growth
Thailand’s fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) industry is projected to generate a real estate market worth at least USD 6.5 billion by 2030, driven by government policies and strong foreign investments. As the country aims to solidify its position as Southeast Asia’s leading hub for EV manufacturing, this growth will fuel demand for specialised real estate […]
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Cambodia Maintains the World’s Highest Central Bank Interest Rates, Defying Global Trends
In the third quarter of 2024, Cambodia continues to lead global markets, with central bank interest rates soaring between 10% and 12%, starkly contrasting with the 0% to 6% range maintained by most major economies. This divergence, detailed in a report by CBRE Cambodia published on 17 October 2024, spans from December 2021 to December […]
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Cambodia’s Construction Investments Struggle to Recover as 2024 Sees Significant Drop
Cambodia’s construction sector continues to face a challenging period, with approved investment projects in 2024 falling to about 2,190, valued at under USD 4 billion, a stark contrast to the nearly 4,841 projects worth approximately USD 12 billion in 2020. The latest report from the Ministry of Land Management and Urban Planning, presented by CBRE […]
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Cambodia’s Tourism Rebounds to Near Pre-Crisis Levels, But Chinese Arrivals Lag Behind Regional Peers
Cambodia’s tourism sector is witnessing a robust rebound in 2024, with international arrivals reaching 4.4 million in the first eight months, a 22.5% surge compared to the same period last year. This strong performance brings the country within 1.6% of its pre-crisis peak of 6.9 million visitors in 2019, highlighting the sector’s steady recovery after […]
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PwC Slapped with Record USD 62.2m Fine and Six-Month Ban Over Evergrande Audit Failures
PwC Zhong Tian, the China arm of the global accounting giant, has been fined a record USD 62.2 million and banned from auditing for six months for its failure to identify financial misstatements in China Evergrande Group’s accounts between 2018 and 2020. The penalties, the most severe imposed on an audit firm in China, are […]
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While China Controls Most of the Real Estate Market, Japan Continues to Dominate ASEAN’s Major Economies
Though growing rapidly, Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Southeast Asia focuses more on tertiary industries like finance, construction, and real estate. It is particularly prominent in less-developed economies such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. According to a recent study by Guanie Lim and Chengwei Xu, China’s FDI in these sectors may complement, rather than […]
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Vietnam Ranks as Southeast Asia’s Least Transparent Real Estate Market
Vietnam’s real estate market has been ranked as the least transparent in Southeast Asia, placing 49th out of 89 countries and territories in JLL’s 2024 Global Real Estate Transparency Index. The report places Vietnam behind regional peers Singapore (13th), Thailand (32nd), Malaysia (33rd), Indonesia (40th), and the Philippines (45th) in terms of transparency, highlighting key […]
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Malaysia Completes Merdeka, World’s 2nd Tallest Skyscraper at 678.9m Amid Concerns Over Demand
Malaysia has added yet another architectural marvel to its skyline with the completion of the 678.9-metre Merdeka 118, now the world’s second-tallest building, following only Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. The towering structure, which will be fully open to the public later this year, further cements Kuala Lumpur’s position as a city of super-tall skyscrapers. However, the […]
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Japanese Companies Pull Out of China as Vietnam Becomes Next Destination
Japanese companies are becoming increasingly cautious about operating in China, as supply chain risks, anti-espionage legislation, and rising geopolitical tensions create an uncertain environment. A recent survey by Teikoku Databank reveals that the number of Japanese companies in China has decreased by 9.4% since its peak in 2012, with 13,034 businesses currently operating in the […]
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