Despite signs of a dramatic slowdown in Asia, HSBC – one of the world's largest banks and the world's second largest public company by market capitalisation – is bullish on the long-term future of the region. Australian companies are already leveraging the economic growth of Asia, and Paulo Maia, chief executive of HSBC Australia, predicts there will be plenty more opportunities in the Asian century. He's looking beyond China and India to the growth markets of Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines and to a truly global world where foreign exchange will play a crucial role with even very small businesses trading in multiple currencies.