Almost 60% of the planet's population live in Asia. At the time of counting we're talking about 4.2 billion people. That's a vast number of people, many of whom are working hard towards ensuring the economies of their respective countries flourish – or at least ride the uneasy currents of the post global meltdown.

These billions of people are spread across 46 different nation states, and together they form the world's fastest-growing economic region. The largest Asian economy is that of China, the formerly insular sleeping giant that has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. In global terms, China's trading prowess is only bettered by the United States of America.

Asian economies have seen some spectacular booms in recent years. South Korea underwent the so-called 'Miracle of the Han River', between 1961 and 1996. During this period its economy expanded from around 30 billion in the early 1960s to a figure approaching a trillion dollars by the end of the 20th century. Other Asian countries that have enjoyed similar booms include Japan, who underwent its so-called economic miracle up until the 1990s, and China, which continues to enjoy an expansion in its commercial prowess.

Asia in no different to any other part of the world in that its component parts differ vastly in terms of wealth and trading clout. The reasons for this are many and varied themselves. The sheer size of Asia means that countries vary tremendously in their industries and potential workforces and work practices. Added to this equation are factors such as cultural differences, environments, historic ties and variations in types of government and economic infrastructure.

In terms of gross domestic product, the largest economies in Asia are China, Japan, Russia, India, Indonesia, the Philipines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. For all that these neighbouring countries are separated by often vastly diverse cultural and sociological make-ups, there are many constants that are equally likely to create the ideal conditions for sustainable and profitable trade partnerships. The increasing utilization of technology, that had the ability to transcend national frontiers, means that many enterprises are integrating across cyberspace, with project teams straddling nations in a way that political entities can only dream of.

When it comes to trading, firms are turning to the global marketplace via the so-called information superhighway (the web to you and I). This is the virtual arena where companies can advertise their wares and make large amounts of capital without the need to operate at ground level. As Western nations increasingly turn to the Far East, with its strong emphasis on value for money and customer-orientated service, trade routes and the possibilities for commercial union will become ever more diverse.

It's not new to 2018, but growth in Asia is heating up. Asia has become the world's largest theme park market.

CNBC: The World Bank raised its economic growth forecasts for developing East Asia and Pacific for this year and 2018. The worth of the mobile contents market in Asia is expected to reach 41.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2019.

IMF: Growth will remain strong at 5.4 percent in 2018, as the region continues to be the leader of global growth.

Forrester: Asia Pacific Tech Market Outlook For 2017 To. 2018. The Region's Tech Spending Will See Moderate Growth In 2017 Before Accelerating To Almost. 6% Growth In 2018.

Forbes: For the first time in 2018, more than half of world's 3.6 billion internet users will reside in Asia Pacific.

Business analysts are casting one eye back to recent history, as well as considering how recent market developments are panning out. One thing that can be looked upon with fairly universal agreement is the fact that the Far East, in tune with the globe in general, has slowly but surely shaken off the worst of the ill-effects of 2008's worldwide recession. This was an event of far-reaching consequences, sending shock waves throughout international commerce. The return to a semblance of normality has been painful in many places, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Asia felt the worst effects of the global economic downturn, to varying degrees. There were many different factors that affected the rate at which recovery was possible. European trading partners experienced severe problems in the euro zone, and the mighty commercial giant of the USA underwent its own lengthy periods of fiscal uncertainty. However, 2015 proved to be a far more settling time for business aspirations around the Pacific Rim, and in the Philippines.

Statistical monitoring from various commercial authorities demonstrated that international trading was at least beginning to fluctuate between negative and positive trends, after several years of graphs meandering ‘below the fault line'. Banks remain cautious when it comes to lending to business clients, particularly those wishing to start up new enterprises. But the good news for entrepreneurs is that the numbers of loan applications being accepted is on the rise, even if this is a gradual trend, in most sectors, and across borders. Asia has traditionally nurtured a careful, conservative business ethos. But this degree of caution is a prime driver in the fact that any recovering, once it begins building momentum, is liable to be much stronger than if there were a series of ‘quick fixes' being applies across the board.

One litmus test of Far Eastern economies is in the commercial property market. Most market analysts, when writing reports on the Asian marketplace, are agreeing that business confidence is returning, and this is reflected in the leasing sector. By studying trends over previous years, the longer-term indications are that real estate requirements are far more likely to show signs of increasing over the next three quarters, compared to the sluggish figures ingathered from the previous three.

With the knock-on effects of the Western European and American economies picking up, the Philippines, and indeed, the Pacific Rim in general, have good reason to feel more optimistic about the Asian markets in 2016 than at the comparable point last year.

Using online technology has definitely revolutionized the way people in the 21st century approach dating. It has made it so much more convenient to fit this aspect of modern life into otherwise hectic schedules. Approaching potential partners via websites also allows for a degree of caution. However, it is important not to get too carried away with shortcuts offered by the online experience. Like anything else through the years, just as technology has involved so has the etiquette associated with it. So here is a list of common and do's and don'ts associated with digital dating etiquette.

Regardless of the potential importance any text message has, you should always stay focused on the task in hand. If you are on a first date, avoid the temptation of checking your mobile every few minutes. Similarly, don't text while you are in the middle of a social situation, such as a meal or a drink. Singular texts can quickly develop into conversational threads, which can prove to be extremely distracting for the person you should be trying to impress.

If you are expecting some crucial call or text, at least give your partner a heads-up, explaining the nature of the communication, and why it is so important than an immediate response is required. When the call comes in, apologize and leave the table or bar area in order to quickly deal with the call. This is the most important aspect – don't leave a dinner date high and dry while you get involved in some serious conversation. You must be able to prioritize, explaining to the caller, if needs be, that you will call them back later, only you are right in the middle of something at the moment. A good pointer is to leave your phone or silent or vibrate mode to avoid it detracting your attention.

When it comes to arranging a date, make the contact through an actual call, rather than a text. Even if you have been pursuing a relationship through a dating site, via a series of emails or text messages, actually make the effort to speak to someone is surefire way of getting to know them better. When you actually go out on your first date, the ice will have already been broken. You have already sowed the seeds for an effective and respectful arena of communication.or vibrate mode to avoid it detracting your attention.

Honesty is a policy to be observed at all times. If you are entering an online dating scenario in the spirit of meeting someone with the potential to become a good friend, or perhaps even a long-term partner, then there is absolutely no point in inventing a tissue of lies about yourself. The moment the truth comes out, the other party will discover they have found out you possess one of the worst traits possible: untrustworthiness.

When it comes to using social media, it is best to avoid tagging your date on your Facebook page, or other sites. On the one hand, this will avoid the temptation to invite comments from your friends – which might have an adverse affect on how you perceive your date. And think of what would happen if you date happened to come across comments made by a third party, who perhaps had neglected to implement the appropriate privacy setting on their Facebook. It also avoids giving the impression that you are more interested in boasting about your ‘trophy' date than genuinely wanting to get to know the person.

The good news for your singletons looking for relationships - or even just fun dates in Asia - is that there is a diverse range of apps available to satisfy your every need. Here we roundup a selection of some examples which are proving to be particularly popular.

LoveByte

Originating in Singapore, LoveByte is a extremely popular messaging app aimed at couples. Amongst its functionality is the ability to create photo albums and save dates, as well as adding milestones such as the ‘first ever date' or special anniversaries. LoveByte includes a cool feature that allows its customers to send scratch-cards bearing secret messages. LoveByte is also available on iOS and Android.

Between

South Korea-based Between is an app that is exclusively aimed at couples. It is intended to create an intimate one-on-one space where lovers can share chats, videos and snaps, as well as sending emoticons to each other. It is available on both Android and iOS.

Pairy

Japan has always been a hotbed of app development, with many eagerly anticipated new releases hitting the market on a regular basis. Pairy is no exception, a social networking app aimed at allowing couples to record their favorite relationship moments for posterity. They also have the facility to communicate with their partners on this platform without having to sift through their many other social media accounts. This is particularly helpful when they want to send direct messages without having to be overly concerned about sorting out the various privacy settings. Much of the functionality over laps with LoveByte and Between, in that it has albums which can be shared, a chat facility, customizable calendars, as well as a data planner. Pairy is available on iOS and Android platforms.

Vibease

Vibease is a sex vibrator that is compatible with either Android or iPhone devices. It can be controlled by the female or her partner. Within the privacy of her own home, the woman can view her ‘fantasy download' on her smart phone. This is a mood-enhancing video footage that buzzes in synchronicity with the vibrator. When joined by her lover, an interface along the lines of WhatsApp becomes available, allowing for some erotic interaction, with an app that can be remotely controlled. This is an example of the depth of innovation that is currently being applied to the design of apps in the Far East. A lot of imagination is being employed to take software - aimed at making aspects of modern life more convenient – to the next level in terms of what it can actually do for the individual. The mind fairly boggles when we try to imagine the types of facility that might be available for the dating market over the next decade or so!