Chinese VCs sanguine on Asean despite Covid-19 and geopolitical headwinds

Singapore

THE inflow of venture capital (VC) from China into South-east Asia may slow down this year, but interest is likely to remain robust into the longterm, given the region's accelerated digital adoption amid the Covid-19 pandemic, industry players have told The Business Times.

This trend comes as Chinese tech companies are expected to further deepen ties with South-east Asia while trade tensions escalate with the US and India. India banned 59 Chinese apps in late June, including the popular TikTok and WeChat, following border skirmishes.