by Irene Wijaya | Sep 14, 2022 | Investment, Technical Reports
The ASEAN Investment Report (AIR) is an annual publication analysing investment trends and other related issues in the region. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in ASEAN surged by 42% in 2021 to US$174 billion. This increase reached the pre-pandemic record level and reversed the decline in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The robust recovery underscores ASEAN’s resilience and attractiveness as a major investment destination in the world and as an engine of growth for FDI. The 2022 report provides a special focus on Investment Facilitation. ASEAN Member States (AMS) have undertaken significant investment facilitation efforts to attract and retain FDI over the years. AMS are stepping up this endeavour through the adoption of the ASEAN Investment Facilitation Framework (AIFF) in 2021, reflecting ASEAN’s commitment to further improve the investment environment and increasing the ease of investing and doing business in the region. This report provides an initial assessment of the AIFF implementation, concluding that the Member States have been actively engaged in facilitating investment but there is still more to do. The ASEAN Investment Report is prepared under a technical cooperation agreement between the ASEAN Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, with inputs from members of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Investment and support from the Government of Australia through the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II. Download: ASEAN Investment Report (AIR) 2022: Pandemic Recovery and Investment Facilitation [8,177kB] Related project: ASEAN Investment Report...
by Irene Wijaya | Oct 18, 2021 | Investment, Technical Reports
The 2020-2021 ASEAN Investment Report looks at the state of foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN in 2019 and 2020, noting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also identifies major developments shaping the FDI landscape and post-pandemic recovery, including the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in November 2020. This mega regional trading agreement, which constitutes about 15 percent of global FDI stock and more than 33 per cent of global FDI flows in 2020, is expected to provide an opportunity for ASEAN and its partners to further boost investment and enhance the development of the global value chain in the region. This report features the role of FDI and Multi-National Enterprises (MNEs) in Industry 4.0 transformation in the region, and how ASEAN Member States promote the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies to support their industrialisation and enhance overall economic competitiveness. The Report also provides recommendations going forward to address the challenges in attracting FDIs to support this transformation process, noting that the prospects for FDI in Industry 4.0 relevant industries and activities are positive. The ASEAN Investment Report was produced in collaboration with UNCTAD. Download Report [PDF, 6.081 kb]...
by Irene Wijaya | Nov 5, 2019 | Investment, Technical Reports
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into ASEAN increased for the third consecutive year in 2018, reaching an all-time high level of USD 155 billion. The region’s share of global FDI inflows also rose to 11.5 percent in 2018. This trend is expected to continue. Services sector is the largest recipient of FDI in ASEAN. The share of services sector in total FDI grew from 50 per cent in 1999-2003 to 66 per cent in 2014-2018. A significant part of FDI in services flows into financial services, wholesale and retail, and real estate activities. This year’s ASEAN Investment Report features the FDI in the services sector, with a special focus on health care. The Report looks in foreign investments and the Multi-National Enterprises (MNEs) in the healthcare industry in ASEAN, as well as the investment environment they thrive in. The Report also provides recommendations in moving forward to develop a competitive health care environment in the region. This report was produced in collaboration with UNCTAD. Download the...
by Web Administrator | Nov 28, 2018 | Investment, Technical Reports
ASEAN’s digital economy has been growing rapidly, backed by the region’s fast expanding digital networks and numbers of mobile phone and Internet users. ASEAN has the third largest number of Internet users in the world after China and India. The region’s active participation in digital development and promotion of investment in information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure are major drivers of this growth. The Internet economy (transactions conducted online) was estimated to be worth $50 billion in 2017 and is expected to become a $200 billion economy by 2025. Fulfilling this potential, however, will require the right policy and regulatory framework to encourage further participation and investment by the private sector. It also requires addressing key challenges and potential drawbacks associated with rapid growth of the digital economy. The ASEAN Investment Report 2018 looks at the how digital economy, including e-commerce, fintech, venture capital and other digital activities influence the investment landscape in ASEAN. It also discusses policy options and digital economy strategy for the region, to help it transform itself into a competitive global digital hub. The report also includes a special section highlighting Australia investment development in ASEAN. It provides historical analysis of Australian foreign direct investment (FDI) and discusses presence of Australian Multinational Enterprises (MNE) in ASEAN. The report was prepared by the ASEAN Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Download the report...
by Irene Wijaya | Dec 6, 2017 | Investment, Technical Reports
In 50 years ASEAN has come a long way economically, in part because of the region’s deep participation in the world economy, including through inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI). The level of FDI and the presence of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in ASEAN is formidable and will remain so in the future. This report tells ASEAN’s 50-year journey to becoming what it is now: a significant hub in MNE’s global production systems and value chain, and features how the enormous influx of FDI has driven economic growth, industrialisation and development across the region. The report also looks at the future of FDI and MNEs in ASEAN. Download the report...
by Irene Wijaya | Dec 6, 2017 | Investment, Technical Reports
The ASEAN Investment Report is a annual analytical report focusing on investment trends and prospects in ASEAN. This year’s Report examines the historical investment development of two Dialogue Partners of ASEAN, namely the European Union (EU) and India. Major multinational enterprises (MNEs) from these countries have been present in ASEAN in a wide range of industries. Many of them operate in multiple locations across the region in different segments of the value chains. The report also features the development of special economic zones (SEZs) in ASEAN, highlighting their roles in driving socioeconomic development and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region. Download the report...
