Asia’s share of the global market for environmental goods and services is likely to triple over the next decade to some $100 billion per year. The region now accounts for just $37 billion of the $600 billion global market, but its fast growth rate of between eight and 12 percent should triple market size by 2015, when the market should be about $800 billion.

And these numbers actually underestimate the size of the regional market, because they don't capture the bulk of infrastructure investment that is needed. Meeting the region's growing demand for improved environmental quality will require a massive expansion of air pollution control, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, public transport, and clean, renewable energy systems. Annual requirements for environmental infrastructure in East Asia alone have separately been estimated to amount already to approximately $200 billion.

October 2005, www.adb.org

Worth approximately S$1 trillion (US$600 billion) globally, the environmental industry has been earmarked by Singapore as a strategic growth area to help the country diversify the economy. Singapore targets to grow value-added (VA) contribution from the water sector from $0.5 billion (0.3% of GDP) in 2003 to $1.7 billion (0.6% of GDP) by 2015.

The Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC) has announced that it will provide $330 million over the next five years to boost the development of the local environment and water industry by providing additional funding for R&D.

July 2006, Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI)  

The Malaysian Government will focus on environmental aspects in its 9th Malaysian Plan (2006- 2010). In the Budget 2006, a sum of US$0.54 billion is allocated for the implementation of environmental preservation projects.

Out of this, a sum of US$11.4 million is provided to prevent erosion of coastal areas, while
US$105.7 million is allocated for drainage and flood mitigation nationwide, US$32.6 million for improvement of rivers and river estuaries, US$283.1 million is provided for repair of existing sewerage plants and construction of new plant. The solid waste management programme is allocated a sum of US$103.7 million.

October 2005, www.mgcc.com.my

Thailand’s market for environmental technology, with an estimated value of A$3 billion per year, has been lucrative for Australian environmental technology firms. It is expected that the industry will grow at 5- 10 per cent per annum. Expansion of the environmental industry relies on the technology and expertise of foreign products and services.

February 2006, www.austrade.gov.au

The US$700 million Philippine market for environmental products, technologies and services is expected to grow 5-8 percent per year over the next three years, due in large part to government and private-sector programs and projects to address pressing environmental problems such as urban air quality, water supply and distribution, water usage monitoring, sanitation and sewerage, solid waste disposal, and industrial and hazardous waste.

2006, www.buyusa.gov

The Vietnam Water Supply and Sewage Association (VWSA) estimates that the total investment for water supply projects will be more than CDN $2.25 billion for the next ten years. The market in Vietnam offers good prospects for the sale of water resources equipment and services. There are key opportunities in providing engineering design and construction services as well as equipment. Good prospects also exist for engineering consultancy services required for the development of large-scale water resources projects, particularly drinking water treatment systems that use surface water as the raw water supply.

March 2006, www.globe-net.ca