ARTICLES

25 Sep 2025

Operationalising the AEC Strategic Plan 2026-2030: From Aspirations to Real Action

Denis Hew

Denis Hew analyses the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026-2030, focusing on its ambitious goals and how they can be expanded, while highlighting concerns over its actionability and the broader implications on ASEAN.

17 Sep 2025

Enhancing ASEAN’s Intra-Regional Trade Need Not Require Bells and Whistles

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Kristina Fong discusses how steps to strengthen ASEAN's intra-regional trade need not require re-inventing the wheel but rather concerted efforts in practical measures to reduce trade facilitation frictions.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity Asean Trade ASEANFocus Trade

11 Sep 2025

Why Advancing Intra-ASEAN Student Mobility Can Help Boost ASEAN’s Integration Journey

Melinda Martinus

Melinda Martinus contends that increasing intra-ASEAN student mobility could unlock economic opportunities, strengthen human capital, and foster a shared regional identity, provided the bloc can overcome structural barriers.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Education

21 May 2025

Why the Asia-Pacific Needs a Regional Green Industrial Strategy

Muyi Yang|Christopher Wright

Amid growing geopolitical rivalry and rising protectionism, a network of net-zero industrial parks could act as the Asia-Pacific’s transition landing zones into a greener future.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity Asia Pacific Sustainable Development

4 Oct 2024

Everyone Everywhere All at Once: The Rise of Digital Nomads in Southeast Asia

Lance Wu

Lance Wu explores the growing presence of digital nomads in Southeast Asia, shedding light on both the opportunities and challenges they pose to local economies.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Digitalisation

5 Sep 2024

Laos’ Connectivity Drive Paves the Way for ASEAN’s Integration

Melinda Martinus|Joanne Lin

Melinda Martinus and Joanne Lin argue that as ASEAN Chair in 2024, Laos has defied scepticism by prioritising connectivity — physical and digital — to foster regional integration.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Laos

26 Jan 2024

Connectivity and Resilience in the ASEAN Power Grid 2.0 under Laos’ ASEAN Chairmanship

Sharon Seah|Mirza Sadaqat Huda

Sharon Seah and Mirza Sadaqat Huda examine Laos’ potential role in leading regional energy interconnectivity in ASEAN.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Laos

8 Jan 2024

Towards AEC 2025 and Beyond: Making the Most of Laos’ 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship

Sanchita Basu Das|Julia Tijaja

Sanchita Basu Das and Julia Tijaja suggest ways in which Laos can advance its Chairmanship priorities under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Economic Development Laos

27 Nov 2023

Digging Deeper with DEFA

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

As the first round of negotiations for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) approaches, Kristina Fong discusses critical aspects to consider that will make the DEFA successful in bridging the digital divide and facilitating more meaningful digital integration.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Digitalisation

11 Sep 2023

Connecting the Dots: Towards an ASEAN QR Code Payments Network

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Kristina Fong Siew Leng takes stock of the progress towards the establishment of an ASEAN QR code payments network, and outlines the challenges faced in the pursuit of a seamless, cost-effective multilateral system.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Digitalisation