Implementation Plan | ASEAN Blue Wealth

Identifying a shared set of ASEAN Blue Economy ‘desired outcomes’.

The ASEAN Blue Economy Framework (ABEF) sets out the overarching vision and strategic direction for achieving a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable blue economy across the region. As a foundational document endorsed through regional dialogue, it articulates ASEAN’s ambition to harness marine and freshwater resources for long-term prosperity. Building on that ambition, the ASEAN Blue Economy Implementation Plan (the Plan) is being developed to translate the ABEF into action. In order to do so we proposed a series of tangible desired outcomes that signify success and which collectively contribute to the overarching ambition of growing ASEAN Blue Wealth. These desired outcomes form the foundation of the Plan which supports the design of pathways toward achieving them using a backcasting approach.

A thematic analysis of the ABEF and complementary ASEAN initiatives, national-level efforts, and relevant regional activities, especially the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 – Our Shared Future strategic plan, the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, the Framework for Circular Economy for the AEC and the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026-2030 was undertaken in order to identify shared desired outcomes across these diverse initiatives.

Common objectives were grouped using guidance from key sustainable development literature, particularly the Sustainable Livelihoods approach. These were cross referenced with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure a comprehensive coverage of these globally accepted goals.

This process resulted in the articulation of five draft desired outcomes:

Growing blue assets, investment and trade (Financial capital): which includes the economic assets which underpin the ASEAN Blue Economy
Developing Blue Infrastructure and technology (Physical capital): which refers to the infrastructure and technology which enables blue economy development
Developing blue skills, knowledge and abilities (Human capital): which refers to the people who work in, engage with and live within the blue economy
Forging strong relationships, trust and collaboration support (Social capital): which speaks to the connections and collaborations which exist across the region, between AMS, between sectors and between sectors of the community
Safeguarding blue resources and ecosystems (Natural capital): which refers to the ecosystem values and environmental assets which support the blue economy

Blue Outcomes and connection to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Blue Outcomes serve as a practical mechanism for linking the strategic priorities outlined in the ABEF with the enabling conditions necessary for effective implementation. They translate high-level strategies into tangible, actionable initiatives that leverage key enablers to drive progress.

The Blue outcomes articulate long-term goals for the ASEAN Blue Economy, as guided by the ABEF. While the Plan and the Roadmap will propose short-term actions (2026–2030) to progress toward these goals, the outcomes themselves are intended as enduring objectives to be reviewed and revised in future implementation cycles to reflect evolving priorities and opportunities.