Why invest in Asia Tech in the AI era?

Although AI-linked US technology companies have captured much of the market spotlight in recent years, the biggest winners from AI may be from Asia. Since 1 October 2022 – the point when the generative AI narrative started gaining momentum – Asia tech stocks have risen 423%, beating US and global tech stocks by 228% and 221% respectively¹.

Despite this outperformance, Asian tech stocks remain more attractively valued than their US peers and have stronger forecasted earnings growth. Fig. 1 and 2.

Fig 1. Asia Tech has more attractive valuations

Source: Bloomberg. As of 29 May 2026.

Fig 2. Asia Tech has stronger earnings growth

Source: Bloomberg. As of 29 May 2026.

Unlike US tech companies which are focused on developing AI models, cloud services and applications, Asia tech companies are AI enablers - supplying semiconductor chips, hardware and infrastructure that make AI deployment possible.

For example, within an AI server, Asian companies provide many critical components which US and European companies cannot supply including optical transceivers, cooling fans and modules, passive components, and server chassis. Asian companies also manufacture key parts for physical AI and robotics such as actuators, sensors and batteries.

Due to the distinct sector makeup of Asia’s tech sector compared to that of the United States, the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Information Technology (IT) Index has a correlation below 0.6 with both the Nasdaq and the MSCI US IT Index. This unique positioning makes Asia tech stocks an attractive and complementary addition for investors who already hold US or global tech stocks.

Asia’s tech exposure is also diversified across multiple segments and markets, providing investors with a larger universe to extract alpha.

Fig. 3. Asia’s strength within the global AI ecosystem

Source: Eastspring Investments. BofA Research. May 2026.

With Asia’s tech sector spanning a wide range of segments, Asia tech stocks allow investors to participate in multiple themes beyond AI, such as EV/ Autonomous driving, Healthcare Tech, Payment, E-commerce and Digital Transformation, which we will explore in subsequent articles.

Asia’s edge as the hardware backbone of the AI supply chain is grounded in deep expertise, a vibrant ecosystem, abundant and competitively priced workforce, and decades of intentional government policies alongside dynamic private sector entrepreneurship. As such, replicating Asia’s technology supply chain is not just a matter of capital investment but of rebuilding an entire ecosystem that has evolved over decades.

Deeply embedded eco-system - Asia’s technology supply chain is widely viewed as difficult to replicate because it is not a single capability, but a deeply embedded ecosystem built over decades. Across Asia, countries have developed highly complementary roles within a tightly integrated production network. The proximity between countries enables faster innovation cycles, rapid problem solving and continual process optimisation. This enables Asia tech companies to move nimbly, helping them to maintain their competitive edge and margins. Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. Example of global semiconductor supply chain

Source: BCG analysis with data from Gartner, SEMI, UBS; SPEEDA, Eastspring Investments.

Human capital & expertise - Human capital and accumulated expertise also represent significant barriers to replication. Asia’s decades-long experience in mass-producing high-precision components for consumer electronics has established a hard-to-match advantage in scale, precision, integration, and speed which Asia tech companies now leverage to produce complex components for AI-related infrastructure.

Long-term industrial policy - Asia’s supply chain has also been shaped by long-term industrial policy and coordinated investment. Governments across the region have supported infrastructure development, talent pipelines, and strategic industries over multiple decades, aligning public policy with private sector growth. While other regions are now pursuing reshoring and localisation strategies, these efforts face the challenge of replicating not just individual capabilities, but the full system of interdependencies that underpin Asia’s dominance.

Therefore, while the US has emerged as the dominant source of AI-related demand, Asia has consolidated its position as the primary AI production hub. Fig. 5 shows that AI-related goods make up a significant share of Asia’s total exports.

Fig. 5. AI-related goods as a share of total exports for selected Asia markets

Source: UN Comtrade, IIF; China, Taiwan & S Korea figures are from 2024; Singapore figures are till Sep 2025; *World Customs Organisation Harmonised System Codes.

The AI cycle is still at an early stage when compared to the 1990s technology cycle. Fig. 6. The global AI market is projected to grow from more than USD300bn in 2025 to nearly USD1.2 trn by 2030, according to forecasts by various research institutions. This could drive an estimated USD3-5 tr of cumulative AI investment, benefiting AI chips, AI infrastructure and the broader tech sector. Against this positive outlook, there are also challenges including power constraints for data centers, production bottlenecks and export controls for semiconductor chip and equipment, uncertainty over the pace of AI monetisation and adoption alongside privacy and security concerns as well as regulatory frameworks. Ultimately, success in capturing the benefits of the AI opportunity will depend on how effectively countries and companies navigate these challenges.

Fig. 6. The AI capex cycle is at an early stage

Source: BEA, IIF. The 1990s technology cycle is indexed to 1Q1993. The AI cycle is indexed to 1Q2022. Equipment and intellectual property investment as % share of nominal US GDP.

As the backbone of global AI ecosystem, Asia is set to remain a cornerstone of the global technology infrastructure. The region’s tech ecosystem is hard to replicate and valuations are attractive. With the US’ dominance (~76%) in global technology benchmarks, investors risk overlooking attractive opportunities and emerging innovators which a dedicated Asia tech allocation can offer.

This article is the second in a five‑part series on the AI technology cycle and the investment opportunities in Asia as the cycle evolves and matures.

Look out for the next article Why Asia is central to the AI server build-out which examines Asia’s competitive advantage in the AI server ecosystem.