Australia's prosperity, security and economic future are linked with Southeast Asia. By 2040, Southeast Asia as a bloc is expected to be the fourth largest economy in the world. Its middle class already numbers close to 200 million people.

Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 (Invested), produced by Australia's Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, Mr Nicholas Moore AO, provides a practical roadmap to increase Australia's two-way trade and investment with the region and ensure we maximise the potential of our economic ties.

The report was launched by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, in Jakarta on 6 September 2023.  It was a key focus of the ASEAN–Australia Special Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations, held in Melbourne in March 2024.

The Government is taking action to advance the Moore report, including through new and expanded initiatives to implement its recommendations. Advancing Implementation [PDF 7.3 MB] [DOCX 5.4 MB] provides an update on progress in the year since Invested was launched, and was released by Prime Minister Albanese in Vientiane, Laos, on 11 October 2024.

Government initiatives

Investment Deal Teams

Southeast Asia Investment Deal Teams have been established across the region and are working with governments and business in Southeast Asia to identify and facilitate outbound investment opportunities for Australian investors.

The Deal Team members are located in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and include officials from Austrade, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Export Finance Australia.

Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange

The Australia Southeast Asia Business Exchange aims to grow two-way trade between Australia and Southeast Asia through targeted business missions to Southeast Asia in priority sectors, after-visit support for Australian companies, marketing campaigns in Southeast Asia and Australia.

A range of missions have been undertaken across the region under the Business Exchange, including on education, green energy transition and the digital economy.

Landing Pads

New regional technology Landing Pads have been established in Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City to provide on-the-ground support for Australian businesses to boost technology services exports to Southeast Asian markets. This builds on the success of a Landing Pad in Singapore.

The Landing Pads are helping tech scale-ups make informed decisions about international expansion, develop and validate market-entry plans, connect with opportunities, customers, partners and funding to grow sales internationally, and raise brand profile.

Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility

The Australia Government is taking steps to make it easier for Australian businesses to expand and thrive in one of the fastest-growing regions in the world by providing access to finance for strategically important investment projects.

The $2 billion Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility provides loans, guarantees, equity and insurance for projects, which encourage investment in Southeast Asia. The facility is particularly focused on enhancing trade and investment and supporting infrastructure development in the region.

In December 2024 , Australia approved a $75 million (US$50 million) equity investment in the Singapore Government’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P) initiative, which aims to support the region’s clean energy transition.

This undertaking is a major step forward in the Government’s implementation of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and demonstrates our commitment to practical action that benefits Australia and the region.

The Facility, managed by Export Finance Australia, focuses on investments in clean energy and infrastructure development.

Business Champions

The Australian Government appointed 10 Business Champions – one for each market covered in the Invested – to facilitate greater commercial links between Australia and Southeast Asia. Business Champions are actively leveraging their experience and influence to promote greater trade and investment between Australia and their associated countries, including by interacting with other programs such as the Australia Southeast Asia Business Exchange.

The Business Champions are:

• Dr Nur Rahman, Executive Director Pristine Pacific Australia (Brunei Darussalam)
• Mr John George OAM, Executive Chairman MGA Insurance Brokers (Cambodia)
• Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, Chancellor of Western Sydney University (Indonesia)
• Mr Charles Olsson, Chairman AgCoTech (Laos)
• Mr Tony Lombardo, Group CEO and Managing Director Lendlease (Malaysia)
• Ms Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO Macquarie Group (the Philippines)
• Mr Shayne Elliot, CEO ANZ (Singapore)
• Mr Peter Fox AM, Executive Chair Linfox (Thailand)
• Mr Louise Adams, COO Aurecon (Vietnam)

Partnerships for Infrastructure

Australia is working with the region to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. Through Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I), we are helping accelerate the policy and regulatory reforms necessary to develop quality infrastructure projects and attract diverse infrastructure finance.

An additional $140 million announced at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit will enable a continuation of P4I's work, as part of a package of measures announced by Prime Minister Albanese to deepen Australia's economic engagement with the region and ensure our shared prosperity.

ASEAN-Australia Centre

The ASEAN-Australia Centre is a focal point for engagement with ASEAN and promoting greater Southeast Asia cultural literacy in Australia. The Centre is focused on strengthening business, education, cultural and community connections between Australia, ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste. It supports the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and implements recommendations from Invested.

The Centre delivers a range of programs and initiatives across its four strategic pillars – Southeast Asia literacy, economic linkages, education and cultural ties – including:

• the ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program, to connect teachers and students in Australia, Southeast Asia and Timor-Leste
• the ASEAN-Australia Emerging Leaders Program and two-way scholarships in the STEM and resource sectors
• a Young Women Entrepreneurs Exchange Program.

In partnership with the National Museum of Australia, the Centre is developing and delivering an innovative immersive digital exhibition which will showcase the art and culture of the Northern Territory’s Tiwi Islands Maningrida region across Southeast Asia.

The Centre’s first grants round is underway. This is an annual program that is funding Australian businesses, creative industry, community, education and cultural organisations to deliver projects, programs and research with Southeast Asian partners.

Aus4ASEAN Scholarships and Fellowships

Australia for ASEAN scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of leaders from ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste.

There are 132 new Aus4ASEAN Scholarshipscommencing in 2025, a number of which are co-funded by universities, and 55 Fellowships to support the region's emerging leaders to study in areas that reinforce the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (maritime, connectivity, economic development and the sustainable development goals 2030) and build lasting ASEAN-Australia connections.This builds on the inaugural cohort of 100 Aus4ASEAN scholars who are expected to complete their studies by mid-2025.

Refer to ASEAN and Australia for further ASEAN Australian cooperation supporting the implementation of Invested.