2021 is set to be a game-changing year across Asia. As the global fight against Covid-19 endures, China will be looking to restore its reputation on the international stage by the global distribution of a vaccine. Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia will carry on investing heavily in infrastructure projects and a snap election is on the cards in Japan.

Covering these three key economies, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has recently published a guide to Asia in 2021. In this guide, we take a look at everything from major political and economic developments to emerging trends that might have flown under the radar.

Here’s what can be found in our regional guide to Asia in 2021:

China

Key things to watch:

• A frontrunner in the vaccine race, but will struggle to win trust

• Property price slump looming in third and fourth tier cities

• Party congress ambitions could prompt risky political moves

Indonesia

Key things to watch:

• Omnibus Bill will give credence to Indonesia’s goal of becoming a manufacturing hub

• Infrastructure will be a silver lining in a difficult year

• Central bank to tighten monetary policy sooner than consensus

Japan

Key things to watch:

• Institutional reform drive to focus on the digital economy

• Snap election likely to be called in spring 2021

• Japan to play a more active role in Quadalliance

The complete “Asia in 2021” guide is available to download here.

The EIU has created a series of regional guides highlighting the trends to watch in some of the world’s key economies this year. Download your regional guide:

Americas in 2021

Europe in 2021

Middle East & Africa in 2021