The Association of Southeast Asian Nations continues to attract strong investor confidence despite a weak global investment environment. According to the ASEAN Investment Report 2025, total foreign direct investments in the region reached two hundred twenty-six billion United States dollars in 2024, an increase of eight percent compared to the previous year.
The report noted that global foreign direct investments fell by eleven percent during the same period. This makes ASEAN one of the very few regions in the world to register growth. The surge was driven by renewed investor activity in manufacturing, technology, and digital industries, especially in Singapore, Viet Nam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Equity investment accounted for almost two-thirds of total inflows, while reinvested earnings contributed the rest. The manufacturing sector received about one hundred thirteen billion dollars, led by electronics, electric equipment, and automotive projects. Digital economy investments more than doubled to sixteen billion dollars.
However, the report cautioned that the value of project finance, which is vital for infrastructure and energy development, dropped sharply to seventy-one billion dollars. This decline threatens to slow the pace of sustainable infrastructure expansion. The ASEAN Secretariat emphasized that the region’s challenge is no longer attracting investment but channeling it toward long-term and inclusive development projects.
