Kuala Lumpur: The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026-2030, a crucial element of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, was officially launched at a ceremony organized by the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat on June 12. The plan is expected to serve as a guiding framework for regional economic transformation, focusing on sustainable growth and deeper integration within the ASEAN region.
According to Lao News Agency, Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz referred to the plan as a “blueprint for regional economic transformation.” He emphasized that the plan builds upon the ‘Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future,’ adopted by ASEAN leaders at the 46th ASEAN Summit on May 26. The strategic plan aims to address evolving business needs and emerging challenges while keeping policies dynamic and relevant.
Tengku Zafrul highlighted the potential for ASEAN to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030, contingent on maintaining a consistent GDP growth rate of 4.0-5.0%. He cited the ASEAN Secretariat’s GDP growth projection of 4.7% for 2025. However, he also acknowledged the uncertainties posed by economic instability and rapidly changing developments, noting that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently reduced its global growth forecast.
The five-year AEC Strategic Plan is designed to ensure that ASEAN’s policies remain current and responsive to shifting business needs and challenges. This strategic approach is seen as pivotal for leveraging the region’s opportunities and potential, supporting ASEAN’s ambition to become a leading global economic powerhouse by 2030.
The AEC, established on December 31, 2015, is a regional economic bloc comprising the 10 ASEAN member states. It forms one of the three key pillars of the ASEAN Vision 2045, alongside the ASEAN Political-Security Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.