Asia and Oceania

Are you a German company that wants to expand globally, transform your foreign business activities or is looking for interesting investment opportunities? Or are you an international investor looking to expand your business activities in the German or European market? No matter where you come from, what your ambitions are or what language you speak, KPMG International Business offers you the support that is right for you.

We cluster our cross-border business into the four market regions Africa/Middle East, Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe, each of which has its own unique challenges and market conditions.. In addition, we are represented in numerous countries by German-speaking experts to be able to offer you the best possible advice on site. Feel free to contact your KPMG country expert about this!

The center of the global economy is increasingly shifting to Asia. Emerging countries are maturing into pioneers, while less developed nations are rapidly catching up. Since 2018, for the first time, more people worldwide have been economically middle class than live in poverty or are at risk of poverty. One of the main reasons for this is the consistently high growth in the countries of East and South Asia

On January 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement between the ten ASEAN member states and five other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, came into force. In terms of population, RCEP is the largest free trade area in the world with over 2.2 billion people. RCEP accounts for almost a third of the world's trade volume and is therefore almost on a par with the European Union (EU).

Many German companies and SMEs have benefited from the "Chinese economic miracle". For example, the "Belt and Road Initiative", also known as the Silk Road project, offers numerous investment opportunities and connects a wide variety of economic areas. The aim is to bring the Eurasian continent closer together. The new Silk Road runs from China to the center of Europe and ends at Europe's largest inland port in Duisburg.

Independently of this, there are also new opportunities in the Asian economic region: Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines and Indonesia are probably the most economically promising countries in the Southeast Asian Pacific region. They are characterized by large domestic markets, have an excellently trained workforce and are conveniently located in terms of logistics. The common desire of the EU and the Asian states to expand free trade is also noteworthy. One example of this is the free trade agreement JEFTA, which has largely eliminated tariffs between Japan and the EU since 2020.

Despite the current tense geopolitical situation, China will remain a relevant market for German companies for the time being. China is still one of Germany's largest and most important trading partners, even if the trade balance is increasingly developing in China's favor. The West's derisking of China also poses challenges. In particular, punitive tariffs imposed by China and the EU are making business more difficult for companies that rely on exports and imports.

India, on the other hand, is considered a particular growth driver in the region and is becoming increasingly important in geopolitical and economic matters, as our survey of German companies in India, the German Indian Business Outlook 2024, shows. For the current year 2024, 78% of the companies surveyed expect their turnover to increase, and this figure rises to 82% over the next five years. Germany is already India's most important trading partner within the EU and the sixth most important trading partner worldwide.

Japan, the "Land of the Rising Sun", is known for its economic, cultural and innovative achievements. As our survey German Business in Japan 2024 shows, the Japanese market is profitable and of great importance for German companies, particularly due to the country's economic and social stability and its high sales potential.

With its dynamism, the Asia-Pacific region creates the right business opportunities for many German companies. We support you in turning the region's opportunities into successful business.