ASEAN Seeks to Be World's Fourth-Largest Economy by 2030

ASEAN is aiming to be the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, said Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. The bloc is prioritizing boosting trade agreements, investment attraction, and economic integration. ASEAN's trade volume in 2023 was $3.5 trillion, with 21.5% taking place within the bloc. The area is also benefitting from tourism recovery, with the number of visitors forecast to hit pre-pandemic levels of 140 million this year. ASEAN enjoys robust trade ties with its partners such as China, Japan, and the US, being the largest source of investment for the bloc.

Source: Asian News Network, March 14, 2025