Ten years ago, leaders of the 10 countries in Asean gathered in Kuala Lumpur for a summit to take stock of their efforts at economic integration.
Just two years earlier, in 2003, they had committed to declaring a region-wide economic community by 2020.
But, heartened by the progress they had made, they agreed to bring forward the deadline for a region-wide economic community by a full five years.
Today, the Asean Economic Community (AEC) - due to come into formal effect next month - is close to becoming a reality for the 625 million people of the region.
This number is larger than the populations of North America or the European Union. It also makes Asean the world's seventh-largest economy.
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Why the AEC matters
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1
Single market and production base. With a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of US$2.6 trillion (S$3.7 trillion) last year, Asean has the third-largest GDP in Asia, after China and Japan. Asean will form the world's seventh-largest economy. If growth trends continue, Asean could become the world's fourth-largest single market by 2030, after the European Union, the United States and China.
5%
Annual growth for the whole of Asean. It is projected to average 5.4 per cent from last year to 2018. For the EU, it is around 2 per cent.
8
Groups of professionals to benefit. Engineers, tourism professionals, dentists, architects, surveyors, accountants, nurses and doctors will enjoy easier access to regional talent. The International Labour Organisation said demand for high-skilled workers will increase, but warned that inequality could worsen.
10
Member countries. They are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The chair nation rotates every year; this year it is Malaysia.
27%
The percentage of Singapore's direct investment abroad in 2012 in Asean - the Republic's top investment destination. Singapore is the No. 1 investor in Myanmar, and Thailand's No. 2. Foreign revenue generated by the top 1,000 companies here by revenue rose from $149.9 billion in 2011 to $223.9 billion last year.
28.8
Years of age. Half of Asean's population was below 28.8 years of age last year, compared to 40.8 in China and 42.1 in the EU.
625m
People. World's third- largest labour force after China and India. Asean's population is expected to hit 670 million by 2020, up from 625 million now. Number of middle-class households will more than double to 80 million in three years.
Clearly, the AEC is an extremely attractive common market and regional production base.
As barriers to the free movement of goods, services and capital gradually diminish, businesses, citizens and would-be investors - within Asean or outside - can consider South-east Asia as a whole when deciding where to invest or open a production facility.
To help this process, Asean members have agreed to cooperate more closely on a range of areas.
These aim to harmonise economic strategies in areas such as human resource development, recognition of professional qualifications, and closer consultation on macroeconomic and financial policies.
They have also agreed to enhance connectivity of infrastructure as well as communications, develop and facilitate electronic transactions, integrate industries across various countries to promote regional sourcing, and enhance private-sector involvement in the economy.
In short, the AEC will transform the Asean economy into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment and skilled labour, and freer flow of capital.
Eight groups of professions will enjoy easier access to regional talent, and professionals in these fields will be able to work in another country more freely. These are: engineers, architects, nurses, doctors, dentists, accountants, surveyors and tourism professionals.
As for investment potential, each member state has attractive characteristics for investors. Some have substantial young populations, while others have abundant natural resources and low-cost labour.
The declaration of the AEC - on schedule - is also timely.
China, the world's No. 2 economy, has seen a sharp slowdown, making investors and businesses here look for other markets to enter.
China is Singapore's largest market for non-oil domestic exports, accounting for 15 per cent last year.
Speaking at the 12th China-Asean Expo in September, then Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan pointed out that Singapore needed to stay nimble and take advantage of faster-growing markets, such as Asean, in the light of China's slowdown.
"A stable, growing and prosperous Asean is very important for our economy. In the end, we must have the ability to adjust and take advantage of markets that are growing faster," he said.
Leaders also hope that stitching the 10 member states together economically through the AEC will enhance regional cooperation in other fields, and help ensure that Asean remains relevant as big powers come courting.
Unwilling to directly confront one another over contentious issues, such as the South China Sea territorial claims, the United States and China are likely to step up bilateral engagement with Asean members to push their respective agendas, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies researcher Angela Poh noted.
Analysts added that sharing a common economic platform, together with a growing range of shared interests in security and social cooperation, will hopefully underscore the importance of unity across Asean.
