Asean nations should grow high-value exports and reassess strategies to further strengthen their economies, says a DHL-funded study, according to a press release.

The study aimed to analyse where Asean countries stand today in relation to China and India, and how they measure up as a trade bloc, in terms of high value exports, against the European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta).

DHL, one of the world's leading express and logistics companies, on Friday revealed the findings of the study titled 'Asean Exports: Today, Tomorrow and the High-value Challenge' and commissioned to Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) at the 4th Asean Business and Investment Summit 2006 (Asean-BIS).

The EIU study focused on the seven largest economies within the Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) trade bloc: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar -- otherwise termed as 'Asean 7'.

The study examined the state of exports in these countries by breaking down the exports into two export categories -- high-value goods (such as computer chips) and low-value goods (such as T-shirts).

High-value goods provide greater scope for companies to expand into areas of greater value production, which in turn will develop the economy as a whole, the study said.

"Asean 7 has been a successful exporter of high-value goods, based on the study, which shows their High Value Export Indicator reflecting 51.3 percent, trailing slightly behind Nafta at 54 percent," said Scott Price, chief executive officer of DHL Express-Asia Pacific.