Southeast Asia outpaces web growth target

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Southeast asia’s internet economy “keeps blowing expectations out of the water”, Rajan Anandan, Google’s vice president, and Rohit Sipahimalani, Temasek’s joint head of Investment Group, wrote in a recent report, revising upward their previous projections for the region.

Their 2016 and 2017 e-Conomy SEA reports foresaw a $200 billion internet economy in the region by 2025. But it is taking much less time to get there. With eight years to go, Southeast Asia is already more than a third ofthe way to the target. And tech companies in the region have already raised half of the $40-$50 billion in funds that Google and Temasek expected them to attract. Their 2018 report projects a $240 billion Southeast Asian internet economy by 2025.