- Nearly half of leaders in Southeast Asia (47%) identify geopolitical instability as the greatest risk to business growth now.
- Most leaders surveyed (75% in Southeast Asia) are optimistic about their own company’s outlook (75%) and the APEC economy (66%), but less than half (46%) expressed the same sentiment for the global economy.
- 45% in Southeast Asia identify technology application as their primary growth driver today; over the next three years, innovation and new products take precedence (47%).
- 50% of leaders in Southeast Asia plan to broaden or diversify their supply chains within the next year.
- Most (73%) leaders in Southeast Asia intend to increase sustainability investment in the next year, up from 32% last year.
- Appetite for M&A and bold capital decisions is rising: 42% in Southeast Asia plan to actively pursue deals in the next year, and 61% plan to do so in the next three years.
Deloitte’s inaugural APEC CEO Survey report, ‘Bridging the Certainty Gap’, sets out to gauge executive sentiment across the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region by examining business leaders’ perspectives on their organisations and the global economy, as well as their views on risk, opportunity, capital strategy, sustainability, geopolitics, and the influence of emerging technologies and AI.
The survey gathered insights from 1,252 senior APEC business leaders across 18 economies and over a dozen industries, spanning multinationals, regional enterprises, and fast-growing private firms. Respondents included more than 270 leaders in Southeast Asia.
In Southeast Asia, leaders are navigating the landscape ahead with qualified confidence, alert to opportunities within the APEC region, but less upbeat about the wider global economy. Most leaders surveyed (75%) are optimistic about their own company’s outlook. When it comes to the APEC economy, 66% are optimistic, but less than half (46%) expressed the same sentiment for the global economy.
“Leaders across Southeast Asia are confident in their own companies’ performance, see tangible opportunities across the APEC region, yet remain cautious about the broader global outlook. We see this as a ‘certainty gap’ that leaders must bridge with strategic vision that turns disruption into opportunity,” said Eugene HO, Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Southeast Asia.
“Our survey shows that Southeast Asian business leaders are managing risk by diversifying supply chains and delaying major investments in the midst of geopolitical uncertainty. They are using technology as a key growth driver today, while focusing on innovation and sustainability for the long term. Beyond immediate concerns, leaders are embedding AI into operational resilience and preparing for mandatory sustainability reporting and sustainable financing. This purposeful agility positions businesses in the region for sustained growth, supported by cooperation within the APEC bloc,” he added.
Growth: Levers, Pivots and Pathways
Business leaders in Southeast Asia continue to prioritise growth, but their strategies are shifting. Emphasis on operational efficiency is giving way to innovation-led expansion and new cross-border value opportunities. The dynamic and fast changing environment that emerges from the survey is creating new demands on organisations and their leaders.
While respondents in Southeast Asia currently identify technology application as their top growth lever (45%), that focus is set to shift. In three years, 47% will prioritise new products and innovation (up from 28% today). Geographic expansion is also gaining momentum, with executives expecting more than half their revenue to come from APEC economies rising from 17% today to 35% in three years.
Operations and Supply Chain: Building Future Resilience
For business leaders in Southeast Asia, supply chains are increasingly seen as strategic assets: adaptive, agile, and significant contributors to competitive strategy.
In the next 12 months, half of all leaders (50%) in Southeast Asia will expand or diversify their supply chains, many building strategic resilience through regional hubs, alternative suppliers, and digital visibility of supplier performance and logistics flows. Only 12% of respondents expect no impact to their supply chains.
Sustainability Momentum
Sustainability is also surging in importance among leaders. While only 21% in Southeast Asia expect it to disrupt their business strategy within the next twelve months, this jumps to 40% within the next three years.
In addition, 69% of respondents view sustainability as critical to capital strategy, amid the growing prominence of sustainable finance in the region.
For an overview of the report’s methodology and findings across APEC, please refer to the Appendix.
For more insights from the Deloitte APEC CEO Survey 2025 across APEC and Southeast Asia, visit https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/issues/work/apec-ceo-survey.html
Deloitte is the Knowledge Partner for the APEC CEO Summit 2025. For more information, visit https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/events/apec-ceo-summit-2025.html
