The economy of Singapore is a highly developed free-market economy. Singapore's economy has been ranked as the most open in the world, 3rd least corrupt, most pro-business, with low tax rates and has the third highest per-capita GDP in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. APEC is headquartered in Singapore.

Malaysia is a country rich in resources such as tin, rubber and palm oil making it a high tech infrastructure that is great for new businesses. Separated by the South China Sea into two landmasses, which are neighboured by Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, the current population of Malaysia stands at 32,046,554 as of June 2018.

As a newly-industrialised country, Thailand is heavily export-focused: exported goods and services make up two-thirds of the country’s GDP, amount to $105 billion of revenue each year.

Some of the most-targeted ASEAN business markets include Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Other nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand are also key players, albeit well-established than their neighbours.

Over the last decade, ASEAN has become the most-targeted trading destination in the world. With resources and manpower aplenty, the region also accounts for low-manufacturing costs, trained workforce and a rising middle class, making it a leading consumption-driven market.