2025-2026 EDITION
“ Advancing financial services sustainably demands academia at the table, alongside innovators, institutions and regulators.”
-2.3 %
-10 % |
-5.2 % |
|
|
|
|
-8.9 %
+ 5.2 %
|
1340.04 |
+ 4.3 % |
+ 7.1 % |
-7.1 % |
-4.3 % |
-8.3 % |
-5.3 % |
-10 % |
-1.5 % |
+ 5.2 % |
+ 3.9 % |
+ 12 % |
-7.1 % |
-3.9 % |
-11 % |
+ 5.3 % |
+ 6.0 % |
-7.1 % |
-11 % |
+ 5.3 %
26
What is the future of ASEAN finance?
As competition between traditional financial institutions and FinTech firms intensifies, industry consolidation will likely pick up over the next decade. Larger players will absorb smaller, niche FinTech firms to enhance digital capabilities and marry the best of both worlds.
Fintech innovators, traditional institutions, regulatory bodies, policy makers and academic institutions must work together to advance financial services in a sustainable, synergistic way. Technological disruption must be balanced by regulatory safeguards; we can learn from the past and leap into the future.
Professor Nafis Alam
ASEAN businesses would do well to explore green finance, impact investing, and green bonds. These green financial instruments and a clear alignment with global sustainability trends will see ASEAN businesses attract ESGfocused investors and gain a competitive advantage both domestically and internationally. Academic partnerships with the public and private sectors are essential in addressing critical issues like cybersecurity and crossborder regulation.
FEATURES
Associate Professor Karren Khaw and Dr Mirzet Seho
With a projected GDP of USD 5 trillion by 2030, ASEAN markets are just stepping into the fast lane. Its large unbanked market fueled by tech-savvy consumers seeking digital financial solutions has positioned the region as a leading hub of financial innovation, inclusion and sustainable finance. The future of finance is bright. e