Asia

"Right now, we're hoping to use these approaches in Africa, Asia and South America. But one day, we may need them for ourselves."

Its accession means South East Asia is now geographically completely represented in Asean, and the tiny country of 1.4 million hopes that integrating its economy with the rest of the region will boost development.

Lenskart sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and other products such as contact lenses and eyewear accessories, across India, Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East, according to its prospectus.

Michael Wan, senior currency analyst at MUFG, pointed out that key issues around sectoral tariffs, including on pharmaceuticals and electronics—key exports for much of Asia—are still unaddressed.

Its rooms are small and dwarfed by the towering government buildings that grace far less consequential countries from Asia to the Middle East.