The ASEAN EC: A new diverse investment universe?

ASEAN

In-Bok Song, senior research analyst at Matthews Asia, explores the challenges of integrating ten Asian economies to establish the first ‘ASEAN Economic Community' by 2015.

Earlier this year, central bank governors in the 10-member bloc of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) declared their intention to integrate their economies and to establish the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015. They plan to create a single market and production base, transforming South East Asia into a more integrated region with liberalised trade for goods and services, investment and skilled labour, and a freer flow of capital. So what does greater economic integration mean for investors in Asia? How much progress has already been made? And what steps does ASE...