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Asia trade set for continued growth despite challenging global business environment, reveals DHL Trade Atlas 2025
- 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.
“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
https://group.dhl.com/en.html
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dhl
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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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The Educational Foundation of William Louey is to launch a video series to support younger people facing mental health challenges due to education pressures.
The initiative features five key opinion leaders (‘KOLs’) and comes at a critical time when youth mental health issues are on the rise. Students are particularly vulnerable to poor mental health due to academic and parental pressure. Studies show that younger people report academic pressure as one of the biggest influences on their well-being.
Suicide claims nearly 1,000 lives annually in Hong Kong, with the number of students considering suicide increasing by 50% since the 2018-2019 academic year. Despite being one of the most developed regions globally, Hong Kong’s psychiatrist-to-population ratio lags significantly behind other developed communities.
The collaboration between the William SD Louey Educational Foundation and SPS aims to speak directly to young men with relatable, expert-backed advice on overcoming mental health challenges, with a particular focus on academic and parental pressure.
Topics will include how to overcome exam stress, bullying and how to navigate feelings of failure. The video series, delivered in Cantonese and English, will feature KOLs including Stephanie Ng, Founder and Executive Director of Body Banter; Michael Chan, Founder of Companion HK; leading psychologist, Dr Adrian Low; D&I Advocate, Charlton Shiu; and Vivek Mahbubani, a comedian and mental health campaigner.
William SD Louey Educational Foundation Founder William Louey, who is well known as the fourth-generation heir of the founder of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company, said:
“Young people need and deserve a system that prioritises mental health, eases academic pressures, and encourages self-confidence and acceptance of individuals’ many strengths. I believe this collaboration will be a valuable step forward to protecting and improving young people’s mental health in Hong Kong.”
Mr. Vincent Ng Chi-kwan, Executive Director of SPS, said:
“SPS receives an average of nearly 10,000 calls per month. Students consistently express feelings of guilt and a sense that they cannot escape their predicaments, leading them to view suicide as their only way out – reflecting a lack of mental health support in the current system and highlighting an urgent need for increased attention to adolescent mental health.”
The full video series will launch on Suicide Prevention Services and William SD Louey Educational Foundation YouTube channels in April 2025.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About William Louey and the William S.D Louey Educational Foundation
William Louey established the William S. D. Louey Educational Foundation in 1995 to provide scholarships and bursaries for academically outstanding students from Hong Kong and Greater China to pursue studies abroad. To date, William Louey has contributed over HKD $60 million to support 60 scholars. Beyond financial assistance, William Louey has also invested time and expertise to mentor and guide students.
For more information about The William SD Louey Educational Foundation, visit https://williamlouey.foundation/
About Suicide Prevention Services (SPS)
Founded in 1995, SPS is a registered charitable organization committed to serving people who are suicidal, despairing or distressed by means of befriending and other services supporting them to regain control of their emotions and the will to live on. SPS has been helped more than 1,100,000 people, providing services including: 24-hour Suicide Prevention Hotline Service, Suicide Prevention Service for the Elderly, Services for Family with Elderly, Services for Survivors of Sudden Death and Suicide Loss, Community Education and Life Education for Youth.
For more information or to access Suicide Prevention Services, visit https://www.sps.org.hk/?lang=en
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Diginex Signs MOU for Strategic Partnership, ADX Dual Listing and up to USD$250 Million capital injection with His Highness, Shaikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi’s Royal family, for Acquisitions and Regional UAE and GCC Expansion via Nomas Global Investments LLC S.P.C, a solely owned SPV of His Highness
The MOUs mark a significant milestone for Diginex as it seeks to tap into the vibrant Middle Eastern capital markets while enhancing its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing financial hubs. The dual listing on ADX, alongside its existing Nasdaq listing and recent cross listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and Tradegate, will provide Diginex with access to a broader investor base and increased liquidity to support its ambitious growth plans.
On February 25, 2025, ADX and Nasdaq announced further integration in their tie-up with one another. The integration of trading platform infrastructure opens up a pathway for desirable Nasdaq listed companies to dual-list in Abu Dhabi, and Diginex is proud to be included in the first cohort of companies to go through such process. Upon completion of the listing process Diginex will be the first technology company listed on the ADX, and with a sustainability focus it stands to benefit from the regions commitment to sustainable finance, which stands at publicly committed funds for sustainable lending of more than USD$135bn.
Shaikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, said “This strategic partnership and planned capital raise reflects our long-standing commitment to both technology and sustainability in the UAE. We must address sustainability challenges, develop strategic frameworks, and craft innovative solutions to ensure a prosperous future for all. Sustainability is a cornerstone of the nation’s strategies, as the UAE continues its unwavering efforts to harness resources and capabilities to drive global sustainable economic and social development.”
The anticipated capital raise pursuant to the MOUs will fuel Diginex’s acquisition strategy, targeting innovative firms in the AI, sustainability, and supply chain sectors by leveraging access to a new regional investor base and opportunities in the UAE, broader GCC region, and support Diginex’s global growth goals.
“We are honoured and excited to welcome a member of Royal Family of Abu Dhabi as a strategic partner,” said Miles Pelham, Chairman of Diginex. “We believe this partnership will support Diginex in establishing key relationships with regional and global financial institutions, banks, and strategic partners aligned with their business objectives. Our objective is to make Diginex a leader in ESG sustainable RegTech, utilizing gold-standard industry partnerships, blockchain, and AI technology within the UAE and GCC region”
The dual listing process will adhere to ADX’s rigorous listing standards, ensuring transparency and investor protection. Diginex anticipates completing the necessary regulatory steps and capital-raising activities in the next two quarters, with further details to be announced as the partnership progresses. However, a dual listing comes with its normal regulatory processes and there can be no assurance that Diginex’s planned dual listing of its ordinary shares on the ADX and capital raise will be successful.
Disclaimer
Not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in the United States, or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures.
This press release is issued pursuant to Rule 135(e) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”). This press release and the information it contains do not, and will not, constitute an offer to sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities of Diginex in the United States (or to or from any U.S. person) or any other jurisdiction where restrictions may apply. Diginex’s securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States (or to any U.S. person) absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities law. Any public offering of Diginex’s securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Diginex and such prospectus will contain detailed information about Diginex, its management, and its financial statements.
Hashtag: #Diginex
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Diginex
Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044) is an impact technology business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate social responsibility and climate action. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software.
The award-winning Diginex ESG platform supports 17 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.
For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/
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HKSTP European Innovation Mixer Tour Bridging Hong Kong with 1,000+ Global Tech Talents
As part of its European tour, HKSTP together with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), led 24 I&T companies to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, achieving remarkable results. The Hong Kong Pavilion welcomed over 7,500 visitors, attracting representatives from global brands such as AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, T-Mobile, Verizon and Vodafone, and securing 1,000+ business collaboration opportunities. HKSTP also signed a cooperation agreement with 22@Network Barcelona to bolster cross-regional exchanges and jointly promote the sustainable development of innovative technologies.
The delegation also visited multiple universities ranked among the world’s top 10 in the UK, including Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and the University College London. They met with representatives from academic departments, research institutes, and innovation and entrepreneurship centres to explore various collaboration opportunities in talent development and startup incubation. The delegation hosted multiple sharing sessions on campuses, engaging with over 300 local students face-to-face and introducing internship and career opportunities at Hong Kong Science Park. They actively encouraged Hong Kong students pursuing studies in the UK to return to Hong Kong for work or entrepreneurship, collectively contributing to the thriving growth of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem.
HKSTP works closely with the government, industry, academia, and research sectors. In London, HKSTP co-hosted a seminar with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (HKETO-London), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES). The event attracted interest from the local business community, academia, and I&T sector, with nearly 100 attendees focusing on Hong Kong’s potential investment and collaboration opportunities. The seminar featured guest speakers delivering keynote speeches on Hong Kong’s I&T development prospects, highlighting the city’s dynamic I&T ecosystem.
During his speech at the seminar, Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said: “As a growing engine situated at an international I&T hub in Asia, the HKSTP understands that nurturing next-generation I&T talent is as important as any R&D project, if not more. We’re currently an ecosystem that over 2,200 tech companies from 26 countries and regions call home, offering comprehensive support to more than 15,000 research and development professionals – a network we’re looking overseas to extend, and a number we’re eager to invest in for a sustainable future.”
While continuing to support park companies in recruiting overseas talent, HKSTP will soon launch a new talent programme designed to attract Hong Kong students and research professionals abroad to pursue careers in the city. The programme will provide eligible park companies with targeted salary subsidies and accommodation support for returning professionals, incentivising them to leverage the immense opportunities within Hong Kong’s thriving I&T ecosystem. Together, these efforts will advance Hong Kong’s rise as a leading global I&T hub.
Hashtag: #HKSTP
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
More information about HKSTP is available at 
www.hkstp.org.
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