ASEAN into the Future: Need For Leadership

Abstract

ASEAN HAS enjoyed a relatively successful and prosperous first 50 years. A key milestone is the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) which laid the foundation for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), one of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community. With 2017 marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, it is apt to chart a roadmap of key issues of regional importance for the next five decades. To ensure continued success, ASEAN needs to further consolidate economic integration, capitalise on favourable demographic factors and channel the skills of today’s tech-savvy youth to harness the digital revolution.