(KPL/VNA) The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026–2030, one of the three key pillars of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 (Vision 2045), was launched at a ceremony held by the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the ASEAN Secretariat on June 12.

Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz described the plan as a "blueprint for regional economic transformation" that will drive sustainable growth and deeper integration.

The plan builds upon the “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future,” which was adopted by ASEAN leaders at the 46th ASEAN Summit on May 26, he said, adding that it represents a new chapter in ASEAN's economic journey, structured to respond to evolving business needs and emerging challenges while ensuring policies remain dynamic and relevant.

ASEAN can become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030 if the region maintains a steady gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 4.0-5.0%, he said.

Citing the ASEAN Secretariat’s assessment for 2025, the Malaysian official said ASEAN’s GDP growth projection for 2025 currently stands at 4.7%. However, he noted that in the face of economic instability and rapidly changing developments, uncertainty remains high. Even, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also just reduced their forecast of global growth.

The five-year AEC Strategic Plan will keep ASEAN’s policies current and updated, so ASEAN can be more responsive to evolving business needs and emerging challenges.

The AEC Strategic Plan has been carefully developed to implement the economic aspects of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, harnessing the bloc’s vast opportunities and potential, he said, adding it will play a key role in enabling ASEAN to achieve its ambition of becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is a regional economic bloc comprising the 10 ASEAN member states, officially established on December 31, 2015. The AEC is one of the three key pillars of the ASEAN Vision 2045, besides the ASEAN Political-Security Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

KPL