Conducting business across geographic and political boundaries presents unique risks, as well as opportunities for growth. Specific multinational risks may include: failure to comply with country rules; unanticipated tax and cost implications; compulsory coverages; gaps or overlaps in coverage; supply chain disruptions; political risk to assets; and risks to the health and well-being of employees, clients, and suppliers.
Asia remains a key engine of cross-border investment and international expansion. According to UNCTAD, the region’s combined outward foreign direct investment (FDI) increased from US$671 billion in 2019 to US$644 billion in 2024 — up 13%. In 2024, Asia accounted for about 40% of global FDI outflows. This sustained momentum highlights the growing international footprint of Asian companies and the increasing need for consistent insurance, regulatory, and risk management support across jurisdictions.
Marsh’s multinational teams, backed by market-leading digital platforms, can be your first point of contact on all international insurance and risk issues. We support you with simplifying processes, maintaining transparency, and helping you develop global programs that align with local country standards.
Our global network of specialists offers insights, developed through years of experience in building customised insurance programs, to provide clients with seamless service and advice around the world.
Insurance and risk solutions for multinational companies in Asia
Today, more than 37% of Fortune Global 500 companies are headquartered in Asia. As Asia’s multinational companies (MNCs) pursue immense growth and investment opportunities globally, they need risk transfer and mitigation solutions that are tailored to their unique requirements and local regulatory environments. Risk management and insurance solutions are key to safeguarding their ambitions.
The focus of these FDIs mainly centres upon infrastructure development, heavy industry, automotive, and high-end manufacturing. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) also continues to shape cross-border investment flows, with cumulative Chinese BRI engagement reaching approximately US$1.4 trillion by the end of 2025. Risk exposures from these projects, physical assets, and investments need to be accurately quantified, and partnering with an experienced insurance broker and risk advisor is a crucial step to uncovering risk blind spots, prioritising the right risks to address, and ensuring corporate accountability to stakeholders.
Why Marsh?
Quality of service sits at the heart of our network model. Marsh has decades of experience in Asia, providing specialist advice on managing multinational insurance programs and providing the highest level of local account service. This is what you can expect:
Owned and proven global network with dedicated specialists
Marsh maintains an extensive and majority-owned network that operates seamlessly across the world. Through its global leadership, our network has the stability and culture to provide accountable, fluid, and consistent service for multinational clients. We provide consistent execution supported by clear escalation protocols and a global community of specialists. Our team continually shares best practices, helping us to deliver unmatched perspectives on global risk.
Local service solutions
Our country-specific servicing teams provide unparalleled knowledge and support for the efficient management of cross-border programs, as well as the cost-effective procurement of compulsory and ancillary local coverages for companies. The effective execution of our clients’ global risk management strategy is underpinned by strategic central planning, our proprietary single technology platform, and consistent performance standards.
Multinational advisory
Our team of experienced global insurance advisors provides strategic insight and support on optimal international program design and network leadership. We have a deep understanding of insurance regulation and practice in territories around the world, which is especially important for companies operating in challenging regulatory and insurance environments.
Insights and efficiency through leading technology
Our industry-leading digital technology platform — Marsh Global Connect — provides clients with up-to-date data and global insight into multinational insurance programs, including a summary of global and local policies, detailed cost analysis by country, reporting functionality, and more. Our digital commitment includes the delivery of benchmarking, claims forecasting, and other analytics solutions. Each of these helps improve decision-making and drive efficiency across your multinational business.
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30/07/2021
FAQs
If you operate in multiple countries, have employees traveling internationally, or import or export goods, then a multinational insurance and risk management program may help mitigate your risks.
Our dedicated multinational specialists help you structure, implement, and optimize your program. We help you identify potentially duplicative coverage and watch for coverage gaps, including compulsory policies. With our support, you can better balance coverage, cost, and compliance, so that you can be confident about the effectiveness and efficiency of your international insurance program.
Absolutely. Each country has unique insurance, tax, and regulatory requirements to navigate. Country risks are constantly evolving with new and emerging issues.
Based on where you operate and what you do, your domestic policy(s) may be insufficient for your global needs. Failure to comply with country insurance coverage regulations could result in tax or other liabilities, damage your reputation, or impair your coverage and loss recovery opportunities.
Our trusted global insurance advisors – including our Insurance Regulatory and Tax specialists – can help you mitigate these risks. We monitor changing insurance marketplace dynamics and regulations, enhancing the coverage response of your insurance and risk management program.
Simply identifying all of your insurance policies globally can be a challenge. Optimizing these – such as by eliminating unnecessary policies, implementing required policies, and evaluating different ways to insure risks – is the next essential step.
Marsh has the expertise, tools, and technologies to help you understand and optimize your program, facilitated by our industry-leading multinational program digital management tool, Marsh Global Connect. We also offer an international risk review, which is a methodical approach to analyzing and aligning your policies and costs to your risk management strategy.
Another program management challenge relates to international mergers and acquisitions, which require specialist knowledge and project management. Our multinational M&A project plan is a proven tool for integrating acquisitions thoughtfully and successfully.
“Global” or “controlled master” programs can be very effective at insuring risks in both the home country and another country (or countries) as needed. The insurer typically issues local underlying policies to meet local regulatory or business needs. This approach delivers ease of administration, coverage consistency, and cost-effectiveness.
Global or controlled master programs are often used for property, liability, D&O, cargo, and related coverages. Other coverages, e.g., automobile and workers’ compensation/employers liability are frequently insured through standalone policies arranged in each country.
Our multinational insurance program specialists are highly experienced at structuring, implementing, and servicing both global and local insurance programs. We can help you critically evaluate the coverage approach that meets your own needs and objectives.