South-East Asia – seen up close
(March 2015)
Forget the visions of an exotic holiday destination: South East Asia is one of the world areas where encouraging economic signs are coming from today, furniture field included.
In the World Bank Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15, Singapore – already in the topmost places for world economic freedom – occupies a stable first place in ASEAN, and second place globally; while Malaysia has risen towards the leading group, sitting squarely now between the top twenty world countries for competitiveness – one the most important Asian emerging countries, aiming to become one of the top hubs for international finance.
Among the most important markets in the world for furniture trade and manufacturing, Malaysia and Singapore are quite different, but both of interest to the professionals working in the field.
