"2022 witnessed the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and the reopening of various economic sectors as Malaysia transitioned to the endemic phase. As a result, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Q3/2022 recorded a significant YoY growth of 14.2% to RM383.8 billion, an increase of RM47.6 billion from Q3/2021. "

"According to the United Nations Environment Programme in 2020, global building operations accounted for about 31% of total energy consumption. As a result, measures have been taken worldwide to reduce total emissions via the implementation of policies on eco-friendly construction and energy efficiency of existing buildings, and Korea has also made efforts to keep pace with the global trend."

"2022 has been a year of challenges for most economies. Supply chain disruption and geopolitical events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent spiralling of energy prices among other things, have meant that inflation has remained beyond the comfort level of most central banks."

"The city continued to struggle against a confluence of downside risks including a slowing domestic economy, stringent border policies, rising interest rates and an uncertain macro-outlook. Total imports and exports of goods and services are expected to drop by 9.9% YoY and 10.3% YoY respectively due to restrictions on crossborder activity with mainland China and the deterioration in demand from the rest of the world."

"The figures show that Malaysia has taken top spot in terms of the number of tourist visitors to Thailand this year, beating the prepandemic conqueror, China. The Baht has suffered as a result of the Fed’s aggressive posture on interest rates, as well as demand for safe-haven currencies. Rising interest rates and tourism income should help the Baht gain momentum towards the end of 2022 and into 2023. "

"Several factors, such as the uncertainties surrounding the global economy, high inflation levels, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the slowing demand for consumer electronics have inevitably had a negative impact on Taiwan’s economy. The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS) has revised Taiwan’s GDP projections for 2022 and 2023 to 3.76% and 3.05%, respectively."

"Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the country’s economic hub. The city’s population stood at 8.3 million in 2015 and had reached 9.1 million by 2021, just short of the 10 million residents required to be a ‘megacity’. Approximately 80% are urban residents due to the influx of migrant workers. Net-migration reached 21.8‰ in 2021. "

"A surge in COVID cases and subsequent lockdown in March had an outsized effect on the retail market, with Shanghai’s retail sales falling 10.7% YoY in the first three quarters of 2022, with wholesale and retail sales down 9.4% YoY, and accommodation and F&B sales down 24.8% YoY After the lockdown was eased in June, consumption began to recover with consumer spending skewed towards food, though there was also a pickup in some discretionary expenditure in Q3/2022, such as NEVs (New Energy Vehicles), smartphones, jewellery and cosmetics growing by 39.8%, 6.6%, 4.9% and 1.3%, respectively."