KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 27 -- When I grew up, one of the most fascinating films on time travel was Back to the Future. I thought about this film as Malaysia finished hosting the Economic Ministers from Aseanand its Dialogue Partners, for the 57th AseanEconomic Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings.

Imagine this: the year is 2045. Many youths are gainfully employed in high-tech industries or high-value services within Asean- a globally respected economic powerhouse that became the world's fourth largest economy by 2030.

The region is agile, inclusive, and digitally integrated. Every employable youth is benefiting from Asean's well-established, seamless and secure digital economy.

Almost everyone - from elderlies to toddlers - is living an...