Asean Insights Content

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.

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.

ASEAN seeks to promote Southeast Asia as a single, seamless, and high-quality destination through data-driven, audience-centered, and digitally enabled regional marketing initiatives. Photo credit: ADB.

Article
2 February 2026

12 Things to Know: Tourism and Travel in Southeast Asia

The ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026–2030 is anchored on five focus areas: resilient tourism, empowered tourism workforce, accessible and seamless travel, digital transformation, and sustainable tourism.

ASEAN member states and ADB conducted an information session on energy resilience on the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Special Senior Officials’ Meeting on Energy in Bohol, Philippines.

News
29 January 2026

Securing an Energy-Resilient Future for ASEAN

Senior energy officials explore a common agenda for insulating energy systems from instability and climate and supply chain shocks.

Across ASEAN, electricity demand is set to almost double by 2040, driven by economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Photo credit: ADB.

Article
28 January 2026

Bridging Borders for a Cleaner Future: ASEAN’s Next Leap in Cross-Border Power Trade

In today’s world, energy security is no longer just about having enough fuel within one’s borders—it is about building systems that are interconnected, resilient, and low-carbon.

Mobilizing green finance to support a just transition. ADB partnered with JICA and other international lenders to provide green loans to the Lotus Wind Power Project in Viet Nam. Photo credit: ADB.

Article
14 January 2026

Solutions Are on the Horizon for Southeast Asia’s Hard-to-Abate Sectors

Coordinated regional action can accelerate technology adoption and interoperability and mobilize transition finance.

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Publication
9 January 2026

How Can Southeast Asia’s Air Transport Sector and Governments Work Together to Expand Aviation Sustainably in the Region?

Reforming airport and air navigation infrastructure investment and regulation can improve aviation performance and better support Asia’s sustainable development.

In October 2024, ASEAN member states endorsed the ASEAN Declaration on Plastic Circularity, signaling a regional commitment to systematic change. Photo credit: iStock/piotr_malczyk

Article
24 December 2025