Research

ASEAN: An Emerging Global Player

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in Bangkok in 1967 to promote regional economic growth, political stability, and regional cooperation. Forty-five years later, ASEAN has grown into an economic community of more than $2 trillion and 600 million people.

Looking forward, member states face a difficult but necessary path to sustained economic growth. ASEAN must implement prudent economic policies that expand basic manufacturing in some places and value-added services and industries in others. It should prioritize education and training to develop the skill sets needed to compete in the global economy. Furthermore, it must strike down lingering intra-ASEAN trade barriers and do more to curb endemic corruption. Specters of political unrest in some countries will make these goals all the more challenging to meet; in any case, ASEAN stands to play an increasingly important role in the global economy.

For the full briefing, please click on the link below:

ASEAN: An Emerging Global Player (PDF)