COVER INTERVIEW
Scaling Greater Heights
Forging the Asia-Middle East Corridor in a Changing Global Economy In a time of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting centres of economic influence, Lennard Yong Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, explains how the firm moved early into the UAE and Asia, how this first‑mover expansion reflects a broader realignment of global business and why the Middle East has become a critical platform for companies building resilient, multi‑jurisdictional strategies
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re you witnessing a flourishing of direct economic and financial links between the Middle East and Asia?
Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium
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For businesses across Asia, the Middle East is emerging as a natural next frontier as global finance decentralises. Today’s global economy is no longer led by mandates from New York and London. As centres of power shift, a new, multipolar world order is emerging, and rapidly developing hubs like Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo are increasingly influencing capital, talent and decision-making. This transformation has made the Asia–Middle East corridor one of the most active trade and investment routes in the world. We are seeing a swift deepening of direct economic and financial links, driven by Gulf sovereign wealth flowing into Asian markets, and Asian corporates establishing regional headquarters in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to serve