An Assessment of the Implementation of Selected Commitments under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025

Abstract

ASEAN has implemented the AEC Blueprint 2025, in which the fourth pillar places
emphasis on ensuring people-centered integration, thereby enabling both enterprises and citizens to
benefit from economic cooperation. This study focuses on three critical areas: the development of
micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs); the expansion of private sector participation;
and the promotion of public - private partnerships (PPPs). The study highlights the progress
achieved, persistent challenges, and the gap between commitments and actual implementation during
the period 2015-2025. It also proposes policy recommendations aimed at enhancing MSMEs’
competitiveness, strengthening the voice of the private sector, and optimizing PPP resource
mobilisation, thereby contributing to the goal of building an inclusive, dynamic, and sustainable
AEC beyond 2025.