Although sometimes overshadowed by larger neighbors in Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing regional economies. With a projected annual growth rate exceeding 5.5% per year, the 10 member states that form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to surpass the European Union and Japan to collectively become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2050.
As growth continues to rapidly outpace global averages, investors and multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasingly setting sights on ASEAN for investment and expansion opportunities. Founded in 1967, ASEAN today includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. While these markets are all at different stages along the economic development continuum, they share potential for immense collective growth.
