Doing Business in APAC

Asia Pacific (APAC), a geographic area that includes much of East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, has become a key driver of the global economy. As the middle-class consumer market expands rapidly and opportunities open up, global investors will want to capitalize on this untapped region and prioritize the APAC region as a critical part of their expansion strategy.

World-class tech hubs are already long-established in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Melbourne – and the innovative drive is spreading to other cities.

Doing business in Asia and Australia involves many considerations, including the following:

• Understanding the government’s role in business, as this varies across the markets.
• Registering the business and furnishing the required upfront capital, documentation, resources, and personnel for the structure selected.
• Complying with labor, payroll, and hiring policies.
• Understanding APAC accounting and filing taxes and regulations.
• Knowing what to look for in local partners and investors.

APAC countries are typically business-friendly, with lower effective corporate tax rates than in Europe or the Americas. These local governments are competing to attract foreign investment, and this often means tax incentives or deductions. Across the region, regulators in the financial services industry are increasingly focused on transparency, improved governance, and customer protection. This is creating a foundation for sustainable and profitable growth in the industry.