ASEAN was regarded as “the leading investment destination,” according to ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh.
Last year, ASEAN attracted US$136.2 billion of FDI, higher than the figure of US$117.7 billion in 2013. The FDI inflows to ASEAN member states have surged in three consecutive years, according ASEAN Investment Review 2015.
The achievements are encouraged amidst the declining trend of global FDI inflows (around 16%) and uneven economic growth in the world market. In 2014, ASEAN absorbed the biggest amount of FDI.
Improved investment environment and the integration process towards the ASEAN Economic Community by the year end have charmed foreign investors. In addition, foreign investors are interested in solid economic foundation and growth prospects in the region.
Vietnamplus was quoted as saying that investment capital of the bloc also surged by 26% to US$24.4 billion in 2014 from US$19.4 billion in 2013.
Earlier, at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS) on the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysian PM Najib Razak hailed ASEAN’s strong development. ASEAN was among a few regions in the world enjoying constant economic booms in recent years.
Last year, the bloc got a GDP growth rate of 4.6% and the figure was expected to expand at 5.6% in the next four years.
The region was forecast to become the fourth largest economy in 2050.
Source: VGP
Key words: ASEAN, becomes leading, investment destination
