Asean connectivity, digitalization crucial to post-pandemic growth

A panel of regional experts at a recent webinar on Resilient Global Value Chains in the post-pandemic “new normal” reiterated the call for more globalization, not less. It comes on the heels of a major realization the post-pandemic world will most likely lead to reconfiguration of global value chains and tech tensions as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) prepares to be more competitive and resilient.

As lockdowns around the world disrupted supply lines across economies, the pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of global value chains (GVCs). On the other hand, GVCs also helped meet the excess demand for medical supplies, other goods and contributed to saving lives and speeding up the economic recovery globally and in the Asean+3 region. Asean+3 refers to the international forum for members of the Asean along with China, Japan and South Korea.