Equally important, enhanced ASEAN connectivity narrows development gaps in
the ASEAN region because the ensuing increased connectivity of lagging countries and lagging regions
within countries in ASEAN leads to increased opportunities for greater investment, trade and growth
in these areas and their revealed comparative advantages flourish. Finally, at the heart of the ASEAN
Economic Community are deeper intra-regional economic linkages and networks within ASEAN at the
same time, the region becomes more integrated with the rest of the world.