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Asean Insights Content

Event Summary
31 March 2026

From Policy to Performance: Making ASEAN Work for Business

This year’s ASEAN Business Environment Forum in Manila shared best practices, strengthened collaboration, and looked at digital pathways to boost competitiveness.
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Publication
27 March 2026

Timor-Leste Joins ASEAN: Can It Close the Development Gap?

This brief explores how quality growth combined with ASEAN support, can help Timor‑Leste turn opportunity into lasting, inclusive progress.
The latest version of the taxonomy includes Version 4 includes the technical screening criteria for the three remaining focus sectors—agriculture, forestry, and fishing; manufacturing; and water supply, sewerage, and waste management. Photo credit: ADB.
Article
23 March 2026

ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance: 5 Things to Know

A comprehensive, science-based taxonomy will help businesses, project proponents, and investors understand what would qualify for sustainable financing.
In Southeast Asia, low-carbon mobility and clean power have the potential to contribute up to $100 billion in revenues by 2030. Photo credit: ADB.
Article
18 March 2026

ASEAN’s Green Leap Can Unlock the Next Wave of Growth

Poised to become the world's fourth largest economy, ASEAN can solidify its standing as an economic powerhouse by tackling the green transition as a growth opportunity and not a cost burden.
Firms are increasingly prioritizing skills-based hiring over educational pedigree, providing youth skills development pathways that can keep pace with industry change rather than the slower cycle of traditional curricula. Photo credit: ADB.
Article
13 March 2026

Microcredentials: ASEAN’s Answer to the Youth Jobs Crisis

These short, targeted programs deliver job-relevant skills, assessed and certified in alignment with industry standards.
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Publication
12 March 2026

Advancing the Green Economy Transition in ASEAN

The report assesses the state of the green economy transition in ASEAN and examines various aspects such as metrics, jobs creation, policies and regulations, and investment opportunities.
Fintech firms have been widely championed for their ability to reach historically underserved communities, including youth, low-income groups, women and small businesses. Photo credit: ADB.
Article
12 March 2026

ASEAN’s Fintech Agenda Should Look Outward

Lessons from other emerging economies could help ASEAN fintech startups grow, in turn promote financial inclusion, bolster competition, and fuel innovation.
Several ASEAN countries now have among the highest electric vehicle sales penetration of any country in the world. Photo credit: ADB.
News
11 March 2026

Southeast Asia Leads Global Boom in Electric Vehicle Sales

Emerging markets in the region are no longer catching up in adopting electric vehicles; they are leading the shift to electric mobility.
Air pollution remains one of the region’s most urgent public health and environmental challenges, yet it also presents one of the greatest opportunities for collaboration by delivering climate gains and cross-sectoral co-benefits across economies. Photo credit: ADB.
News
2 March 2026

Shared Atmosphere, Shared Responsibility: ASEAN Solutions for Better Air

On 13 March, a session at the Better Air Quality Conference 2026 will spotlight how regional cooperation can drive cleaner air, healthier people, and more resilient ecosystems.
Southeast Asia welcomed an estimated 144 million international visitors in 2025, a 13.4% increase from the previous year. Photo credit: ADB.
Article
25 February 2026

When Second Is Best: How ASEAN Is Tackling Overtourism

Developing secondary destinations provides a way to spread the benefits of tourism while easing pressure on primary attractions.
On 4 February, the ASEAN Secretariat and ADB organized a joint consultative meeting with the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre, the Centre for the IMT-GT, and the GMS Secretariat in Jakarta. From left: Jason Rush, principal regional cooperation specialist at ADB; Alfredo Perdiguero, head of Regional Cooperation and Integration at ADB’s Southeast Asia Department; and ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh. Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat.
News
23 February 2026

ASEAN Secretariat, ADB Convene Joint Consultation Meeting with BIMP-EAGA, IMT-GT, and GMS Secretariats

Increased collaboration and coordination in agriculture, energy, and tourism is being explored.
ASEAN is home to nearly 700 million people and is now the world’s 5th largest economy and on track to become the 4th largest by 2030. Photo credit: ADB.
Article
19 February 2026

The Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship: Steering the Region toward Greater Resilience, Connection, and Change

Themed 'Navigating Our Future, Together,' the 2026 chairship is rooted in ASEAN’s founding values of peace, stability, and inclusive growth.
Realising a Confident Digital Society: Spotlight on Southeast Asia cover.
Publication
16 February 2026

Realising a Confident Digital Society: Spotlight on Southeast Asia

This report examines the concept of a confident digital society and offers policy recommendations to advance sustainable and empowered digital societies.
Event Summary
6 February 2026

ASEAN Wants Quality over Quantity in Growing Tourism Sector

The ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026–2030 sets the agenda for strengthening tourism as a driver of economic growth, regional integration, and community development.
Event
4 February 2026

Social License to Operate: Balancing Stakeholder Expectations and Operational Needs

The webinar provides practical guidance for ASEAN ports on identifying material sustainability issues and strengthening their social license.