UK-ASEAN Growth Gateway programme: UK investment barriers and recommendations (summary)
Published 26 June 2025
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This report identifies key barriers UK MedTech firms face when investing in ASEAN, including fragmented regulations, underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited access to quality suppliers and skilled labour.
Despite strong awareness of ASEAN’s economic potential, firms often drop off at the consideration and setup stages due to a lack of consolidated market information, unharmonised regulatory frameworks, and difficulty navigating local quality management systems. Post-Brexit regulatory divergence and UKCA requirements have further complicated trade, increasing costs and lead times for firms sourcing from or exporting to ASEAN.
The report highlights that ASEAN’s logistical, digital, and manufacturing maturity varies widely, making it difficult for UK firms to replicate operating standards or scale production. Strong domestic incentives in the UK and alternative markets like China and India also reduce ASEAN’s relative attractiveness.
Additionally, firms face challenges in securing intellectual property protection, managing government interactions, and hiring skilled local talent. These issues are compounded by inconsistent investment incentives across ASEAN countries and a lack of harmonised standards for medical device registration and post-market surveillance.
To address these challenges, the report proposes 14 recommendations, including developing a regional co-marketing toolkit, harmonising regulatory standards, expanding skills initiatives, and scaling concierge services to support UK firms in navigating ASEAN markets.
It also suggests leveraging UK expertise to support ASEAN’s workforce development and infrastructure improvements. By implementing these measures, the UK and ASEAN can foster a more conducive environment for MedTech investment, enabling UK firms to tap into ASEAN’s growing healthcare demand while supporting regional economic development.