Fifty years on, South-east Asia emerges as global growth leader

[SINGAPORE] The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has much to crow about as it marks its 50th anniversary: economic and social progress, a manufacturing powerhouse and relative political stability.

The 10 Asean members boast of some of the world's fastest expanding economies like the Philippines and Vietnam, with growth rates of more than 6 per cent. With a combined population of over 620 million and an economy of US$2.6 trillion, the investment potential is huge and by 2020, the region will have the world's fifth largest economy, the World Economic Forum predicts.

Yet the goal of integrated economies remains a long way off. Businesses still face restrictions despite a 2015 blueprint mapping steps to eliminate trade barriers and create a single market to allow the free flow of goods, services and labor.

Diverse political regimes from a democracy in Indonesia to a military junta in Thailand to communist governments in Laos and Vietnam present barriers to closer ties. Issues such as competing claims over parts of the South China Sea have also fueled discord.

"It's always individual first and Asean next," said Song Seng Wun, an economist at CIMB Private Banking in Singapore, who has covered the region for more than two decades.

Established in 1967 in Bangkok, the five founding members - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand - set up Asean to boost economic growth and promote peace. Since then, they've transformed from largely poor and agricultural nations into production hubs of products from cars to mobile phones.

Gross domestic product in Asean has surged to US$2.6 trillion in 2016, about the size of UK's economy, from a mere US$37.6 billion in 1970. Growth in Asean is seen at 4.9 per cent next year, with Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines posting the fastest expansion in the region, according to BMI Research.

Many of the bigger Asean members like Singapore are heavily export-reliant, making them dependent on the global growth cycle. South-east Asia has emerged as a strong manufacturing alternative to neighbouring China, helped by lower labour costs, growing domestic demand and improvements in infrastructure.

Trade among Asean members remains low compared to regional groupings like the EU, according to Capital Economics Ltd. Intra-regional trade makes up about a fifth of total trade, compared with more than 60 per cent in the EU. Non-tariff barriers are still high among members, especially in Indonesia, Gareth Leather, a senior Asia economist in London, said in a note.

Many countries in the region are enjoying the benefits of a demographic dividend. While the likes of China, Japan and Hong Kong have all seen a contraction in their workforces since 2015, South-east Asia will see its working-age population expand through 2020, Nomura Holdings Inc estimates show.

The region's strong growth outlook is luring more investment. Coca-Cola Co is expanding in Vietnam and in Myanmar while Apple Inc is building research centres in Indonesia.

BLOOMBERG