Western tech firms will expand in South-east Asia

Significance

Although several countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, also have laws which restrict the internet -- and affect foreign tech companies through data localisation and other requirements -- Western companies are inclined to downplay this aspect of the region’s tech sector.

Impacts

• The new US infrastructure plan, which has USD65bn earmarked for digital infrastructure investment, may dampen US tech investment overseas.
• A potential US-South-east Asia digital trade agreement would not prioritise human rights.
• US and Chinese firms will compete for cloud services contracts in the region.