The ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC) was officially launched by Singapore’s Prime Minister H.E. Lee Hsien Loong at the opening ceremony of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Singapore. The Centre is an integral part of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, a regional research centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment.

Established in 2008, ASC conducts policy research and analysis on ASEAN’s development in support of ASEAN integration and community-building. Under this objective, ASC studies the political-security, economic, environmental and socio-cultural trends in ASEAN through a range of research programmes, publications, events as well as institutional engagement.  ASC also provides regular platforms, such as the ASEAN Roundtable and the ASEAN Lecture Series, which feature and engage high-level policy-makers, scholars, public intellectuals and business leaders to discuss constructive ideas that will help shape the development of the region and foster a better understanding of ASEAN.