Story perspectives

Foreign Investment Soars in Southeast Asia, Reaches $337M

1/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Foreign investment is returning to Southeast Asia, with December 2025 equity inflows totaling US$337 million, the highest since September 2024.
The inflows include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
The rebound signals strong foreign direct investment (FDI) interest, even as equity flows remain sensitive to global rates, according to Dong He of the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office and Sasidaran Gopalan of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

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Story summary

Foreign investment is returning to Southeast Asia, with December 2025 equity inflows totaling US$337 million, the highest since September 2024.
The inflows include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
The rebound signals strong foreign direct investment (FDI) interest, even as equity flows remain sensitive to global rates, according to Dong He of the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office and Sasidaran Gopalan of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.