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Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. With the European Union undergoing a crisis of confidence and talk of a possible breakup, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is emerging as a top standard for regional cooperation.

Compared to many other countries, the 10-member regional group is sailing smoothly in the headwinds of global economic turmoil.

But is enough being done to improve Asean connectivity, better integrate the economies and improve business links? This issue was the main topic of discussion by a distinguished panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The consensus among the panelists — which included heads of trade and industry from Singapore, Malaysia and Burma; the deputy prime minister of Thailand; and the chief executive officer of the Lippo Group, James T. Riady, who represented Indonesia — was that Asean should move at its own pace and involve all stakeholders in the process of integration. The Lippo Group owns the Jakarta Globe.

Mustapa Mohamed, the Malaysian minister of trade and industry, said that in terms of connectivity, air and sea transportation pose challenges for the region’s governments.

“Apart from the movement of goods and services, the free flow of ideas is also important and has a big impact on creating the Asean consciousness,” he said.

For businesses to use the Asean region as a manufacturing base instead of China, Asean countries must improve connectivity, Mustapa said.

“This is not just for MNCs [multinational corporations], but also local businesses, as it will boost intra-Asean trade,” he said.

Mustapa’s counterpart from Singapore, Lim Hng Kiang, likened the Asean region to a black swan — an unpredictable force that does not appear to show much movement on the surface though there is furious peddling beneath it.

“We want to have a flexible arrangement where we can move at our own pace,” Lim said.

In terms of boosting trade, he revealed that Asean will start working with its six dialogue partners this year to launch a free-trade agreement.

Representing the voice of business in the region, Riady said Asean must be credited for creating an environment of stability after the chaos in 1965 when Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore were on the verge of confrontation. This has allowed businesses to prosper, which has in turn raised living standards across the region.

“We need one more generation of peace and stability so more prosperity and economic development can take place,” Riady said, adding that the structures to foster integration are in place, but the process needs to speed up.

“In the past 45 years, Asean has developed based on a model of wage differential and relying on cheap labor,” Riady said. “In the next 30 years, it cannot rely on the same model because the world is changing quickly.”

Asean needs stronger leaders with the right mindset, he added.

“Solutions should not be from the top down, but should arrive from empowering the market and society, including the private sector,” he said.