Asia-Pacific (APAC) chief executive officers (CEOs) reported much more optimism last year about the growth prospects of their own economies (82 per cent) over the next three years, while confidence in global economic prospects declined, according to KPMG.

In 2023, 73 per cent of APAC CEOs were optimistic about global economic prospects; however, it was down to 64 per cent in 2025. Globally, only 68 per cent of CEOs remain upbeat about this—the lowest level seen in four years.

APAC CEOs reported much more optimism in 2025 about the growth prospects of their own economies over the next three years, while confidence in global economic prospects dropped, KPMG said.
Optimism about their own country’s prospects was the highest in Australia and lowest in India last year.
About four-fifths of APAC CEOs also saw substantial growth opportunities for their organisations and industries.

Optimism about their own country’s prospects was the highest in Australia (90 per cent) and lowest in India (71 per cent) last year, a KPMG release said citing its latest annual ‘APAC CEO Outlook’.

The declining confidence of APAC CEOs in the global landscape also reflects ongoing uncertainty and volatility that has plagued the global markets, stemming from an evolving geopolitical landscape, persistent supply chain constraints and intensifying scrutiny on sustainability, KPMG noted.

Furthermore, about 80 per cent of APAC CEOs also saw substantial growth opportunities for their organisations and industries, in line with the global average.

In fact, in 2025, executives appear more certain that their companies are on an upward trajectory compared to the previous year: 61 per cent of respondents expect earnings to increase by more than 2.5 per cent this year, compared to just 52 per cent in 2024.

CEOs in Japan (76 per cent) are particularly optimistic about their earnings outlook compared to global and regional peers, reflecting its solid domestic demand and stable GDP performance.

This positivity is driving many in APAC to continue investing in their businesses, with executives noting that there is strong appetite for increased hiring (92 per cent) and mergers and acquisitions (87 per cent) over the next three years, and a substantial number (82 per cent) of APAC CEOs expecting to spend more than 10 per cent of their budgets on artificial intelligence (AI) in the next 12 months.

This clearly indicates that subdued global outlook has not dampened optimism around companies’ prospects in APAC, KPMG remarked.

Confidence in the growth prospects of the global economy is lowest among Chinese companies (58 per cent). This likely reflects, in part, the impacts of an uncertain tariff environment. Strained relations with its main export partner and uncertainty around global demand are likely some areas of concern among firms in China.

Global trade risks topped the minds of APAC CEOs last year, especially as geopolitical tensions and trade realignments dominated headlines. These trends have persisted in 2025, with supply chain resilience remaining a top three driver of organisational decision-making in the short term.

However, the landscape is shifting with the arrival of emerging technologies like generative AI. AI integration is the top issue driving APAC executives’ short-term decision-making, a notable contrast with global peers who are more focused on cybersecurity issues and supply chain resilience, KPMG added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)