More than six in ten business leaders optimistic about APEC's economy: Deloitte

This is despite 59% saying they see geopolitical instability as risks to growth now.

More than six in ten (61%) of Singapore business leaders are optimistic about the economy in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region, with 71% sharing a positive outlook about their own company, a study showed. 

Despite this optimism, 59% of business leaders identify geopolitical instability as the greatest risk to business growth now.

Only 31% expressed an optimistic outlook about the global economy, Deloitte said in its APEC CEO Survey 2025.

In the same report, Deloitte found that 56% of business heads in Singapore identify technology application as their primary growth driver today, and 53% said they will use innovation and products over the next three years.

Another 56% plan to broaden or diversify their supply chains within the next year.

They expect half of their revenue to come from their expansion across APEC, rising to 50% from 33%, which Deloitte said is a reflection of international trade amongst businesses in the city-state.

In terms of their overseas targets, leaders in Singapore expect to invest most in Indonesia (38%), Vietnam (34%) and Mainland China (33%), it added.

Sixty-eight percent of leaders intend to increase sustainability investment next year, up from 34% last year.

Thirty-one percent of Singapore business leaders plan to actively pursue deals next year, and 45% plan to do so in the next three years.

The Deloitte APEC CEO Survey 2025 gathered insights from 1,252 senior APEC business leaders across 18 economies in multinational and regional enterprises, and private firms. Respondents included more than 270 leaders in Southeast Asia.