The ASEAN Investment Report is an annual report analysing investment and related issues in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It was prepared by the ASEAN Secretariat and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), supported by the Government of Australia through the Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4ASEAN Futures).
The report arrives as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 Blueprint nears its final year, providing an in-depth analysis of ASEAN’s investment landscape over the past decade.
Resilience in a changing FDI landscape
In a time of shifting global economic dynamics, including redirected investment flows and diversified supply chains, ASEAN has remained a resilient and attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
- ASEAN has maintained its position at the top of FDI recipients among developing regions for three consecutive years.
- FDI inflows to ASEAN reached a record $230 billion in 2023, despite an overall decline in global flows.
- The shifting patterns and priorities in global FDI, particularly the growing focus on digital and green technologies, are also strongly evident in the region.
- International investment trends in 2023 underscored ASEAN’s rising prominence as a global hub for financial and digital services as well as manufacturing, with the region attracting strong investments in renewable energy, electric vehicles and the digital economy.
Opportunities to enhance intra-ASEAN investment
The report outlines several areas where overall intra-ASEAN investment can be improved, including:
- Addressing existing implementation gaps and tackling issues affecting the regional investment climate in various domains, including trade, services, digital, public-private partnerships, skills and technology.
- Enhancing the alignment between the AEC and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the focus on gender development and inclusivity.
- Focus on increasing FDI that fosters regional integration, resilience and sustainability to further solidify the region’s position as a global value chain hub.
