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Jeremy Tan Tells Us Why He's Grateful to be Born in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia: An overlooked gem primed to shine
Jeremy Tan
December 13, 2023
This is a guest post by Jeremy Tan who is Co-founder and Partner at Tin Man Capital, which targets B2B companies at pre-A or Series A stage. Previously Jeremy spent time as Head of M&A at Puma Energy for Asia & Middle East and was a VP at Morgan Stanley.
I’m lucky to be born in Southeast Asia.
Some might expect little to no development here.
It’s also why only few are looking seriously into the region’s potential.
10 huge reasons why Southeast Asia is poised for greatness in the coming decades:
1/ Diverse Demographics
More than 660 million people, brimming with youthful energy. Median age in Southeast Asia: ~30, Tech-savvy and ambitious. I expect massive innovation from young people in the coming years.
2/ Economic Growth
It's one of the fastest-growing economic regions globally. GDP growth forecasted: 4.7%. (Rivalling, CN/IN) A burgeoning middle class & rapid urbanisation = hotbed for business & investment.
3️/ Cultural Richness
Home to 1,000+ languages and distinct cultures. A wellspring of creativity. I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a humble home and meet a variety of people across stations. All united by fundamental Asian values.
4️/ Tech Revolution
It's a burgeoning tech hub, with startups becoming increasingly sophisticated. Its internet economy reached $218 billion GMV in 2023 and poised to grow even more.
5️/ Strategic Location
It holds politically neutral ground in global commerce. A gateway where other countries seek new expansion opportunities. Cultural similarities to nearby countries make working together easier.
6️/ Tourism on the consistent rise
Tourism, and capital flow are on the rise. The tourism sector contributed approximately $345.3 billion to its GDP. Continued attraction of sustainable investment and capital is expected.
7️/ Resilience and Adaptability
Southeast Asians have shown incredible resilience in the face of economic adversity, such as the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. This adaptability is a crucial trait for overcoming challenges and thriving.
8️/ Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The startup scene is booming and the region is producing thousands of startups; more importantly, we’re seeing the culture and capital posture of governments building the groundwork for ecosystems to grow. Thousands of startups built sustainably, not just unicorns.
9️/ Infrastructure and Policies
Over $22 billion in infrastructure investments for modern transportation networks makes the region more accessible to the rest of the world. Countries like Singapore have also made leaps financial innovation with policies guiding new models (crypto, fintech).
10/ Strategic Partnerships
Countries increasingly form strategic partnerships, boosting trade relations and stability. Intra-ASEAN trade has an average value of about $638 billion per year. Individually, countries appear fragmented and small. Together, we’re strong and grow faster.
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Southeast Asia is often misunderstood.
I believe it’s a 💎 gem that’s hiding in plain sight.
What do you think?
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