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Asia trade set for continued growth despite challenging global business environment, reveals DHL Trade Atlas 2025

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  • India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are forecast to lead in both speed and scale of trade growth from 2024 to 2029
  • South Asia and Southeast Asia regions set to achieve fastest trade volume growth from 2024 to 2029
  • Asia remains central to global production networks, as the region benefits from supply chain diversification strategies
  • Global trade recovered in 2024 and is forecast to grow faster over the next five years than during the preceding

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 March 2025 – DHL and the New York University Stern School of Business have released the latest DHL Trade Atlas 2025, providing a comprehensive analysis of the most important trends in global trade. The report reveals that Asia’s trade outlook remains positive, mirroring global trade, which is forecast to grow faster over the next five years compared to the preceding decade. In fact, a few countries in Asia – India, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines – are expected to see especially strong growth. The South Asia as well as Southeast Asia regions are also set to outperform other regions in terms of trade growth.

DHL Trade Atlas 2025 reveals Asia trade set for continued growth

“As we look towards the future of trade in Asia, it’s clear how trade growth has proven surprisingly resilient in the face of recent disruptions. With the ongoing diversification of supply chains that continues to reshape the commerce landscape, Asia has steadfastly emerged as a key player in the global market,” said Ken Lee, CEO – Asia Pacific, DHL Express. “However, we must approach this promising outlook with a measured perspective, recognizing the uncertainties and volatility that continue to characterize the global business environment. As businesses diversify supply chains, it is essential they stay innovative in their strategy and proactive in seeking out new routes to growth.”

New leaders in trade growth: India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines

Between 2024 and 2029, four countries in Asia are forecast to rank among the top 30 for both speed (growth rate) and scale (absolute amount) of trade growth: India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

In the next five years, India is anticipated to retain its third-place rank on the scale dimension as well as jump 15 spots to the 17th position on the speed dimension as its compound annual trade volume growth rate rises from 5.2% to 7.2%. Additionally, India may also deliver 6% of the world’s trade growth, behind China (12%) and the United States (10%).

The prospects of Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines are bright as they have displayed substantial potential to benefit from supply chain shifts and diversification strategies. Vietnam is expected to maintain a 6.5% compound annual trade volume growth rate over the 2024-2029 period and promote one position to rank fifth on the scale dimension. Indonesia is predicted to retain its 12th place on the scale rankings, while rising from 33rd to 25th in the speed rankings. More notably, the Philippines is set to leap 114 positions to rank 15th on the speed dimension, and rise from 68th to 30th on the scale dimension.

South Asia and ASEAN to produce faster growth rates than other regions

South Asia and the ASEAN regions are forecasted to deliver the fastest trade volume growth among major world regions from 2024 to 2029 with CAGR of 5.6% and 5.0%, respectively. In fact, trade growth is also expected to accelerate substantially compared to the previous five-year period in these regions. Other regions such as North America and Europe are forecast to grow at rates of 2.7%.

The DHL Trade Atlas also finds that the center of gravity of world trade has shifted. The shares of trade conducted by the world’s major geographic regions has changed since 2000, with the most dramatic change observed in Asian economies. Between 2000 and 2024, the share of world trade borne by South & Central Asia rose from 2% to 5%. However, a major region like Europe saw its share of world trade decrease from 41% to 36% for the same period.

New record in long-distance trade as Asia becomes central to global production networks

Despite widespread interest in nearshoring and producing goods closer to customers, the DHL Trade Atlas 2025 demonstrates that trade has not become more regionalized overall. Actual trade flows indicate the opposite trend. In the first nine months of 2024, the average distance traversed for all traded goods reached a record 5,000 kilometers, compared to just over 4,500 kilometers in 2000. This development can be attributed to the fact that Europe and North America have increasingly traded with Asia, as “Factory Asia” becomes central to global production networks.

Faster global trade growth compared to the previous decade

Recent forecasts predict goods trade will grow at a compound annual rate of 3.1% from 2024 to 2029. This roughly aligns with GDP growth and represents modestly faster trade growth compared to the previous decade. Even if the new U.S. administration implements all of its proposed tariff increases and other countries retaliate, global trade is still expected to grow over the next five years – but at a much slower pace.

“While threats to the global trading system must be taken seriously, global trade has shown great resilience because of the large benefits that it delivers for economies and societies,” said Steven A. Altman, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern’s Center for the Future of Management. “While the U.S. could pull back from trade – at a significant cost – other countries are not likely to follow the U.S. down that path because smaller countries would suffer even more in a global retreat from trade.”

The DHL Trade Atlas 2025

The DHL Trade Atlas 2025 features a wealth of data-driven insights and analysis on global trade and its prospects. It is an up-to-date resource for business leaders, policymakers, educators, students, media, and the interested public. It includes concise one-page profiles summarizing the trade patterns of nearly 200 countries and territories that comprise over 99% of world trade, GDP, and population.

The free interactive content available at dhl.com/tradeatlas is a new feature of the report. The website enables users to customize analyses and explore trade trends by specific countries, regions, and categories of goods. Additionally, it offers convenient options for downloading data and images.

The report was commissioned by DHL and authored by Steven A. Altman and Caroline R. Bastian of New York University Stern School of Business. It was finalized in February 2025 using data and forecast updates through January 2025.
Hashtag: #DHLTradeAtlas #GlobalTrade #SupplyChainDiversification


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DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

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SL Aesthetic Group Marks 22 Years of Innovation and Regional Expansion in Singapore and Southeast Asia

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 – SL Aesthetic Group celebrates its 22nd anniversary, marking its growth from a single clinic into a multi-brand medical aesthetics and healthcare group.

Founded in Singapore in 2003, the Group has grown to encompass five specialised brands operating more than twenty outlets across Singapore and the region.

  • SL Aesthetic Clinic offers doctor-led skin, face and body treatments, and is one of Singapore’s longest-running medical aesthetics clinic.
  • SkinLab The Medical Spa, a dermatology-focused medical spa, specialises in medical-grade facials and skincare products for sensitive skin.
  • TrichoLab, a dedicated hair and scalp health brand specialising in medical hair loss solutions.
  • Euphie (Malaysia) is the Group’s Malaysia-based extension comprising Euphie Skin Solutions and Euphie Clinic, delivering medically supervised aesthetic care.

The Group has served more than 100,000 patients, with care provided by a team of 12 doctors and more than 100 trained specialists.

Over the past two decades, the concept of beauty and wellness has broadened into a more holistic approach to personal care—one that goes beyond aesthetics to support overall wellbeing. People are placing greater emphasis on long-term health, from their mental health and nutrition to their physical appearance. This shift has driven growing demand for preventive, medically supervised services that integrate aesthetics with broader health concerns.

In response to these changing needs, SL Aesthetic Group has expanded its medical services beyond skin and hair treatments, introducing more than 40 new offerings across its five specialised brand portfolios, including women’s health services.

Dr Kelvin Chua, Founder and Senior Medical Director of SL Aesthetic Group, said: “Reaching 22 years reflects the continuity of care we have built over time. As patient expectations change, our focus remains on delivering medically supervised services that support long-term health and well-being.”

As part of this expansion, the Group launched Prologue The Lifestyle Medical Clinic and Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness in 2025. Prologue The Lifestyle Medical Clinic focuses on preventive care for chronic conditions, supported by artificial intelligence–enabled health screenings for early detection of conditions such as dementia and cancer. Meanwhile, Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness addresses women’s health needs across different life stages, including perimenopause, menopause, and postpartum recovery.

Within Singapore, the group strengthened its physical presence with the opening of its tenth SL Aesthetic Clinic and SkinLab The Medical Spa outlet at iMall in Marine Parade, as a response to strong and sustained demand from patients in the eastern region.

Regionally, SL Aesthetic Group marked a milestone as its Malaysia-based brand, Euphie — comprising Euphie Skin Solutions and Euphie Clinic — celebrated its first anniversary. Building on this foundation, the Group plans to open an additional outlet in Malaysia, extending its medically supervised services to a wider patient base.

Looking ahead, SL Aesthetic Group plans to continue expanding its clinical footprint while maintaining regulatory compliance, clinical standards, and patient safety.

For more information, visit: https://slaestheticgroup.com/
Hashtag: #SLAesthetic

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About SL Aesthetic Group

SL Aesthetic Group is one of Singapore’s longest-established medical aesthetic groups, with a presence in Singapore and Malaysia. The Group houses a diverse portfolio of brands, including SL Aesthetic Clinic, SkinLab The Medical Spa, TrichoLab, PROLOGUE, and Euphie (Malaysia).

Founded in the 2000s, SL Aesthetic Group specialises in skin and hair health, women’s wellness, and holistic medicine. Across its clinics and outlets, the Group offers a comprehensive range of FDA-approved aesthetic and medical treatments, all supervised by trained and certified healthcare professionals holding Certificates of Competency (COC) recognised by the Singapore Medical Council’s Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (APOC).

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Aon Appoints Kulshaan Singh as Enterprise Client Leader, Asia Pacific based in Singapore

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the appointment of Kulshaan Singh as enterprise client leader, Asia Pacific, effective immediately.

Based in Singapore, Singh will leverage his extensive experience across some of Asia’s most dynamic markets to deliver innovative approaches to Risk Capital and Human Capital for Aon’s enterprise and large multinational clients in Asia. Reporting to Craig Torgius, chief client officer and head of enterprise clients, Asia Pacific, Singh will focus on building strategic partnerships and unlocking new opportunities supporting clients to achieve their growth ambitions.

“Kulshaan brings a rare blend of strategic acumen with strong execution ability, global insight and local expertise to our Asia Pacific team,” said Torgius. “His ability to lead transformation, foster collaboration and deliver results across diverse industries will be invaluable in helping clients navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape.”

With over two decades of experience in consulting and executive leadership, Singh held prominent roles including managing director for talent solutions for southeast Asia at Aon, CEO Mercer Singapore and chief people officer at Charoen Pokphand Group. Most recently, as the global group chief people officer at Thai Union Group, he spearheaded large-scale transformation initiatives including organisation design, succession and leadership alignment.

Reflecting on his new role, Singh said, “I feel privileged and excited to be back at Aon and look forward to working closely with Aon’s global and local teams to deliver solutions that help clients navigate complexity and interconnected challenges.”

Read more about Aon’s capabilities in Asia Pacific here.

Hashtag: #Aon

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About Aon

exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

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Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.

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Zero-Emission Technology Underpins the Future of Urban Living

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HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 – In 2025, Vietnam marked a pivotal moment in its economic trajectory. Amid persistent global uncertainties, the country recorded GDP growth of 8.02%. Vietnam’s economic scale also reached a new threshold, with GDP estimated at approximately USD 514 billion and GDP per capita surpassing USD 5,000, officially elevating the country into the upper-middle-income category. Notably, Vietnam led ASEAN in growth momentum, reinforcing Vietnam’s rising profile as a resilient and increasingly attractive destination for long-term global capital.

As an economy reaches a new stage of development, the central question is no longer how fast it can grow, but how well it can sustain that growth over time. The development trajectories of many countries show that crossing an income threshold often brings complex structural pressures: Mounting strain on urban infrastructure, environmental degradation, and higher expectations for quality of life.

In this context, traditional growth models, those that prioritize short-term economic returns, begin to reveal their limitations. What emerges instead is a clear demand for development paradigms in which economic performance, environmental resilience, and social value are conceived together from the outset, rather than treated as sequential or secondary considerations.

For Vietnam, this transition is particularly significant as global capital flows increasingly favor ESG-aligned markets, and urban residents shift from a focus on asset ownership to a more holistic pursuit of living quality and long-term wellbeing. Real estate, therefore, is no longer simply a supply-and-demand equation, but a foundational platform for shaping lifestyles, communities, and sustainable urban ecosystems.

It is precisely within this structural shift that Vinhomes Green Paradise is positioned as a forward-looking benchmark, reflecting the long-term vision of Vinhomes to develop real estate on an “ESG++ from the ground up” foundation, where sustainability is not an added feature, but the core architecture that underpins enduring economic and social value.

Geography as Destiny: A Living Natural Heritage

Many believe that Vinhomes Green Paradise is a “new wonder” of modern society, bringing together a rare convergence of forward-looking planning, contemporary living standards, and visionary development. Yet beyond its scale or sophistication, its very location is a wonder in itself. It is a place where human intelligence and capability are applied not to dominate nature, but to collaborate with it, leveraging an irreplaceable “forest-backed, sea-facing” setting that cannot be replicated, while preserving, restoring, and ultimately giving back to the natural environment.

Among more than 90 submissions from across the globe, New7Wonders selected Vinhomes Green Paradise as the first project worldwide to receive the “Official Participant” certification in the global “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign.

“This is a truly exceptional project,” said Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and Chairman of the global campaign. “Vinhomes Green Paradise is a ‘precious jewel’, a place that is exceptional for living, working, and enjoying life. The project symbolizes the kind of cities that dare to dream, dare to pave new paths, and dare to break boundaries to realize a future where nature, community, and growth coexist in harmony.”

According to him, this spirit is exactly what the world is seeking in the cities of tomorrow.

After personally visiting the site in Can Gio, Jean-Paul de la Fuente identified the project’s geography as its most irreplaceable asset. Spanning 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise is uniquely positioned between two globally significant ecosystems. To the front lies the vast Pacific Ocean, with 121 kilometers of coastline. Behind it stretches the 75,000-hectare Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO.

At the heart of the megacity sits an 800-hectare saltwater lagoon, the largest of its kind in the world, functioning as a natural ecological regulator, a “green heart” sustaining biodiversity, climate balance, and urban vitality.

Unlike many coastal developments around the world, nature here is not reduced to a backdrop. It is treated as a living heritage, actively preserved and regenerated through dedicated mangrove restoration funds that protect not only the project, but also the ecological shield of Ho Chi Minh City.

While many global developments aim to comply with ESG standards, Vinhomes Green Paradise goes further, introducing an ESG++ model built on five pillars: Environment, Social, Governance, Regeneration, and Adaptation.

This approach reflects a paradigm shift in urban development. Cities of the future must not merely “do less harm”. They must actively give back to nature and society.

Jean-Paul emphasized the importance of this vision: “Future sustainable cities must not ‘take’ from nature, they must ‘give back,’ helping restore and nurture the planet.”

This regenerative mindset is embedded from the earliest stages of construction. Advanced K-DPM technology transforms dredged soft mud into durable construction material, completely eliminating waste discharge into the environment, a breakthrough in large-scale coastal development.

Technology as the City’s Invisible Infrastructure

If nature is the soul of Vinhomes Green Paradise, technology is its invisible nervous system. The entire megacity is designed to operate on 100% clean energy, sourced from offshore wind turbines located 20 kilometers from shore and large-scale solar systems. Transportation within the city and connections to central Ho Chi Minh City are oriented toward zero emissions, supported by electric mobility and high-speed rail.

IoT, AI, and Big Data platforms operate continuously to monitor environmental quality, optimize energy use, and provide early warnings for climate-related risks, ensuring resilience in an era of increasing uncertainty.

One of the core criteria of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign is placing people at the heart of urban design. At Vinhomes Green Paradise, this principle is elevated further: Residents are not passive beneficiaries, but active co-creatorsof the city.

The megacity features globally scaled cultural and lifestyle landmarks, including a 122-hectare entertainment complex, the 7-hectare Blue Waves Theatre with 5,000 seats, an outdoor performance plaza for 60,000 people, two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Tiger Woods and Robert Trent Jones, a 108-story tower among the world’s top 10 tallest, and the Cosmo Bay night-time economy hub.

Healthcare, education, and lifelong wellbeing are equally prioritized, with Vinmec healthcare partnering with Cleveland Clinic (USA), Vinschool and Brighton College (UK) in education, and Vin New Horizon redefining senior living. Together, they form an ecosystem where human potential is continuously nurtured.

Residents also play a direct role in environmental stewardship, participating in biodiversity monitoring, mangrove planting, waste sorting, and adopting electric mobility, becoming true “ecological ambassadors” of Can Gio.

The Wonders of the Future Are Being Built Today

For Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Vinhomes Green Paradise represents far more than an urban project.
“The project is positioned as a powerful symbol of Vietnam’s national aspirations and its determination to assert its place on the global stage. What was seen on site is only a small part of a much larger vision,” he said.

Reflecting on the impact of previous New7Wonders campaigns, he noted: “The previous two campaigns, ‘New7Wonders of the World’ and ‘New7Wonders of Nature’, both generated what researchers call the ‘Wonder Effect,’ significantly boosting the economies and societies of the winning destinations.”

Drawing a parallel with Ha Long Bay, he added that he truly believe Vinhomes Green Paradise can achieve something similar, but on an even larger scale, competing directly with iconic cities around the world.”

As Jean-Paul concluded: “If our previous campaigns celebrated the heritage of the past and the beauty of the present, then the ‘7 Wonders of Future Cities’ campaign celebrates the vision being created for future generations.”

“The wonders of the future are taking shape today through the choices, creativity, and determination of pioneering urban planners and developers.”

In that global narrative, Vinhomes Green Paradise stands as a powerful testament to Vietnam’s ambition: A city where geography itself is a wonder, where growth does not compromise the future, and where nature, technology, and humanity evolve together, creating a legacy not just for Vietnam, but for the world.

Hashtag: #Vinhomes

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