According to the Asian Development outlook for 2015 (ADB 2015), the developing countries in Southeast Asia are the main engines of global growth since the 2009 financial crisis. These countries contributed nearly 60 percent of annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth, whic stood at 4 percent on the average. Southeast Asia's aggregate GDP is projected to grow by 4.9 percent in 2015. The region was also expected to enjoy continued expansion through 2016 at 5.3 percent growth, in time for the inauguration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community.
