This paper profiles the current status of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) vision launched at the end of 2015; along with the latest updates on the ASEAN market itself. The key objective is to examine optimum means of dealing with ASEAN companies as they steadily build up their strength.

1. Steady Invigoration of the ASEAN Economy through AEC: While the AEC has gotten off the ground, a virtual mountain of issues remains to be dealt with on the immediate horizon. Then again, integration of the region is proceeding at a steady pace, with the flow of capital within ASEAN borders also energizing. Clearly, there is no stopping the emerging economic integration in ASEAN.
2. ASEAN Company Challenges and Growth: ASEAN companies have diligently done their homework by studying the approaches advanced in the industrialized nations and refining their own management methods. They also boast keen local knowledge, speedy decision making prowess and other inherent strengths, as they continue to boost their presence. They face issues, however, in terms of brand power, technology and other aspects of wide-area development.
3. The Expanding Importance of ASEAN Companies for their Japanese Counterparts: ASEAN companies as a benchmark for grasping movements throughout ASEAN at large

ASEAN companies as rivals destined to pose steadily mounting threats.

ASEAN companies as win-win partners acting to mutually shore up both sides