The Asia Pacific Society of Association Executives (APSAE) has published its landmark report, State of Associations in the Asia Pacific Region 2026, calling on governments and industry leaders to recognise professional and trade associations as vital economic drivers.
The release coincides with APSAE’s official launch.
Despite powering over half of global economic growth, the region’s tens of thousands of industry bodies remain underutilised and underfunded. The report identifies headwinds facing these organisations, including geopolitical turbulence, fragmented digital transformation, heavy reliance on membership dues, outdated volunteer-led management models, and widespread talent shortages.
To address these vulnerabilities across more than 20 economies, the report introduces a strategic 10-point policy roadmap.
- Policy integration: APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and ASEAN (Association of South-east Asian Nations) should formally integrate associations into national and regional trade and economic policy frameworks.
- Regional authority: Establish APSAE as the primary regional authority for association excellence, leadership development, and operational standards by 2028.
- MICE expansion: Expand business event bidding funds, and offer targeted tax incentives to capture a larger share of the global association meetings market.
- Revenue diversification: Monetise knowledge products, paid research, and professional certifications under tax-friendly frameworks to reduce reliance on membership dues.
- Talent pipeline: Create a regional association internship scheme and university partnerships to cultivate young professionals.
- Digital adoption: Provide government grants and shared digital frameworks to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and modern data analytics.
- Governance modernisation: Transition from pure volunteer boards to hybrid management structures led by professional CEOs and certified association executives.
- Global reach: Support international chapter expansion to establish Asia Pacific-led global associations.
- Framework implementation: Designate associations as formal implementing bodies for Mutual Recognition Arrangements in green energy, digital services, and healthcare.
- Data infrastructure: Build a centralised, open-access regional database to track and analyse the economic contributions of the association sector.
The report and full details on the roadmap are available at APSAE.org.
