HANOI • As one of the world's fastest-growing regions, Asean holds much promise but its potential can be fully realised only if it puts in place the right strategies for everything from trade to urban planning, experts said yesterday.

The central bankers, banking heads and management consultants at the World Economic Forum on Asean told a panel discussion on the economic outlook that they are upbeat about prospects for the region, given its young population and growing middle class.