ASEAN Economic Co-operation in the 1980s and 1990s

Abstract

ASEAN has come to be regarded as an important regional grouping of nations from an economic as well as a political point of view. The economic importance of the association however could be said to derive more from the rapid growth and development performance of some of its member economies than the collective strength and cohesion of the association itself. Over the years of its existence, the association has made several attempts at greater economic co-operation, but its achievements in this regard remain rather patchy. At the Manila summit of the ASEAN heads of government held in December 1987 this relative lack of success was recognised and concrete proposals were made to accelerate the pace of economic co-operation.