Southeast Asian countries could soon overtake other developing nations by embracing new technologies that transform how people living here work, live and play, a new report from JLL reveals. Growth in the region is expected to surpass the global average with an expanding middle class likely to form new habits.
The JLL report looked at how advanced digital technologies could impact countries in the newly established ASEAN Economic Community. One such revelation was how home-sharing platforms such as Airbnb could improve how efficiently property is used. It might even lead to a reduction in the number of hotel rooms in the region and increase the number of people who own second homes.
“In many ways, new technologies will allow people to bypass current constraints and leapfrog into greater efficiency. The impact on real estate and infrastructure in Southeast Asia is likely to be positive and transformational,” Chris Fossick, managing director, Singapore & South East Asia, JLL, explained in a press release. “If harnessed effectively, the changes will bring improved productivity, income levels and quality of life to the population.”
Another potential change could affect office space. Flexible work practices and an increase in co-sharing spaces could reduce the demand for office space throughout the Asean. Regina Lim, national director, Advisory & Research, Capital Markets, JLL, stated, “While growth in demand for office space slowed after the global financial crisis, Southeast Asia has bucked the trend, with demand expected to grow at six percent per year until 2020 due to economic growth, further acceleration of outsourcing from developed markets, and the rise of the middle class.”
The report added that Southeast Asian economies are predicted to grow at five percent annually until 2020 which is greater than the global growth forecast of 3.5 percent. Meanwhile urban population in Southeast Asia’s cities will increase by 2.2 percent annually and the middle income population is set to increase by 70 million before the end of the decade.
