The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in 1967 with the aim of enhancing the multilateral cooperation in the field of economics, politics and socio-culture among 10 South East Asian countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao. ASEAN Community is comprised of three primary pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is set up on December 31st, 2015. One of the main purposes of AEC is to create a single market and production base in the region. Such purpose has been progressively fulfilled through the Agreement on Free Trade in Goods, Services, Investment in ASEAN and many other Programs, Initiatives, etc.
(From VCCI)