ASEAN’s economic scale and demographic strength could attract greater international investor interest, although the region remains relatively underrepresented in global investment portfolios, according to the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC).
SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said ASEAN already had the economic scale, growth potential and diversity to warrant greater attention from global investors.
“Its diversity is a source of resilience and growth within an increasingly connected region. Our focus is to highlight ASEAN’s evolving investment landscape, the region’s increasing appeal to global investors and its potential as an integrated and investable asset class with Malaysia as a gateway,” he said in a statement today.
The SC said ASEAN has a combined economy worth US$4.26 trillion, a population of nearly 700 million and goods trade worth US$4.37 trillion. However, its representation in global investment portfolios remains relatively modest compared with its economic size and growth potential.
The comments came after the SC convened the inaugural ASEAN Investment Roadshow in London earlier this week, bringing together around 100 institutional investors, asset managers, regulators, index providers and other market participants.
FTSE Russell Equities & Multi-Asset head of EMEA index product management and global head of index research and design Jamie Perrett said ASEAN’s growing economic scale would become increasingly important to global portfolios.
“Its distinctive mix of domestic demand, supply-chain diversification and transition financing can complement broader emerging-market exposure, while reforms across the region are making its capital markets increasingly accessible to global investors,” he said.
The roadshow, co-hosted with FTSE Russell, focused on investment opportunities across ASEAN and efforts to improve the region’s accessibility and investability.
The initiative supports the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum’s agenda, while the SC said it also forms part of efforts to connect international capital with opportunities across the region and position Malaysia as a gateway for regional fundraising and i
