Billions of dollars are pouring into Southeast Asian countries for infrastructure development, while Southeast Asian companies with strong balance sheets flex their muscles by investing in infrastructure outside their borders.

Once an obscure region for institutional investors, Southeast Asia is now showing up on more and more radar screens. Rapid growth, a rising middle class, improving regulatory environments and massive infrastructure needs have all contributed to this interest.

Southeast Asia is made up of 10 countries: Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Taken together, they are the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and they are becoming a force to be reckoned with. The ASEAN Economic Community has