From Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi: Milken Institute’s 2026 Global Opportunity Index Portrays Resiliency and Encouraging Growth Trend in Emerging Southeast Asia

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Economies in Southeast Asia continue to display encouraging trends of calibrated growth amidst global headwinds, prompting renewed attention from global investors, according to the Milken Institute’s latest Global Opportunity Index 2026 report focusing on high-growth markets in emerging and developing Southeast Asia. The Global Opportunity Index (GOI) is an annual ranking published by the Milken Institute that evaluates the investment attractiveness of emerging and developing economies using 101 variables across five categories: Business Perception, Economic Fundamentals, Financial Services, Institutional Framework, and International Standards & Policy.

The newly published report uncovers notable trends in the region. Chief among others, the six growth markets in Southeast Asia has attracted 8.2 percent of total capital inflows to emerging and developing economies from 2021 to 2024. Foreign direct investment (FDI) accounts for more than 70 percent of total inflows to the region, underscoring the region’s growing importance as a destination for global capital. High-performing countries like Malaysia score exceptionally well in nearly every category listed in the GOI, while Indonesia, the largest economy in the group, has seen a dramatic improvement in its financial sector, rising from 78th to 38th in Financial Services since 2022. The Philippines ranks 6th globally in Economic Performance, supported by strong post-pandemic growth, though governance and regulatory challenges continue to weigh on its overall standing. Vietnam achieved an impressive 7.1 percent growth in real GDP, the fastest among the group in 2024. The country ranks 2nd in Economic Performance and 14th in Financial Size and Conditions, reflecting strong growth alongside a rapidly deepening financial sector. Meanwhile, Cambodia and Laos lag behind their regional peers, facing persistent institutional weaknesses that constrain their investment environments.