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Country Profiles

China

China is a major regional power within Asia and is the world’s most populous country, with a population of 1.35 billion people. As well as the mainland, China includes the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau and it claims sovereignty over Taiwan. Since introducing economic reforms in 1978 it has become one of the world’s fastest growing economies and as of 2014 is the world’s second largest economy by nominal total GDP. China is the world’s second largest country by land area and its vast area includes vast mountain ranges, forest steppes, deserts in the arid north and subtropical forests in the south.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong (“Fragrant Harbour”) is a special administrative region of China and the territory has developed into a major global trade and financial center. Hong Kong is regarded as a world city, is considered one of the three most important financial centers in the world and is the 44th largest economy in the world. It is know for its skyline, deep natural harbour and is one of the world’s most densely populated areas and has a population of 7.2 million people. Limited land has created a dense infrastructure and the territory has become a center of modern architecture, and is one of the world’s most vertical cities.

Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest island country in the world by the number of islands, with more than 14,000. The country has an estimated population of 255 million people, making it the world's 4th most populous country. The Indonesian economy is the world's 16th largest by nominal GDP and 8th largest by GDP/PPP. The country has a variety of agricultural, manufacturing and service industries and is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and is a member of the G-20 major economies. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the second highest level of biodiversity in the world.

Japan

Japan is one of Asia’s most prominent countries and is a country famous for its culture and history. Japan's population of 126 million makes it the 10th largest country in the world. Its capital is Tokyo, home to more than 9 million people and the greater Tokyo area with a total of 35 million people is the world’s largest metropolitan area. Japan is a developed country with a high standard of living and whose population enjoys the highest life expectancy in the world. The country has the world's 3rd largest economy by nominal GDP.

Malaysia

Malaysia is one of Asia’s most unique countries and it is one of the 17 mega diverse countries on earth that contain large numbers of endemic species. The capital city of the country is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. With a population of over 30 million, Malaysia is the 43rd most populous country in the world. The country has one of the best economic records in Asia, with its GDP growing at an average of 6.5% per annum for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism.

Philippines

The Philippines is one of Asia’s most well known countries and with a population of 102 million people it is the 7th most populous country in Asia and the 12th most populous country in the world. The country is comprised of 7,107 islands. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons, but also endows it with abundant natural resources and some of the world's greatest biodiversity and makes it one of Asia’s most popular tourism locations.

Singapore

Singapore is a leading global city-state and island country in Southeast Asia. It is a global commerce, financial and transportation hub. Singapore is home to 5.5 million people, has been ranked by the World Bank as the “Easiest place to do business” for more than 10 years. Singapore is one of the five founding members of ASEAN and for the past decade has been the only Asian country with an AAA sovereign rating from all major credit rating agencies. It’s world ranking include – the 4th largest finance center; the 3rd largest oil refining center; the 2nd busiest container port and “Asia’s most influential city” rank by Forbes Magazine.

South Korea

South Korea is East Asia's most developed country and has a population of more than 50.6 million people. Koreans are among the richest in the world, enjoying Asia’s highest median income and average wage. The country was named the world’s most innovative country in the Bloomberg Innovation Index, is know for its ease of doing business, ranks first in the world in research and development spent per GDP and is notable for having the world’s fastest Internet speeds.

Thailand

Thailand is a country at the center of the Indochinese peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. Thailand is the 20th-most populous country in the world and has a population of more than 66 million people. It’s capital and largest city is Bangkok, which is the country’s commercial, cultural and industrial hub. Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are leading sectors of the economy. Among the ten ASEAN countries, Thailand ranks third in quality of life.

Vietnam

Vietnam is the eastern most country on the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. With an estimated population of 92 million people, it is Asian’s 8th most populous country and the 13th most populous country in the world. Its capital city is Hanoi and its leading business city is Ho Chi Minh City in the south of the country. Since 2000, Vietnam's economic growth rate has been among the highest in the world and acheived economic growth of 6.7% in 2015.