Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and ASEAN secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn open the 56th ASEAN Day celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 8. ASEAN SECRETARIAT
‘Indeed, the challenges of today’s global dynamics are not easy, the global economy has not fully recovered, rivalry getting sharper, but I believe ASEAN is capable, as long as ASEAN is united,” expressed Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Indonesia is the rotating chair of ASEAN this year. Jokowi’s words rang out at ASEAN’s 56th-anniversary celebration in Jakarta on August 8, resonating with hope and optimism.
The ASEAN Secretariat’s grounds were alive with colour and pageantry. The vibrant event marked the bloc’s long journey since its inception, reflecting its vision for a unified and prosperous future.
Jokowi was joined by his foreign minister Retno Marsudi, alongside ASEAN secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn, and the diplomatic community based in Jakarta.
Together, they celebrated ASEAN’s mission of creating peace, stability, and prosperity.
Jokowi remarked: “56 years ago, ASEAN was formed with the determination to make Southeast Asia a peaceful, stable and prosperous region, and today I want us to reaffirm that spirit and determination”.
This year’s theme is the “Epicentrum of Growth”, aligning with Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship theme for 2023, “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”.
At the event, Kim Hourn celebrated ASEAN’s progress, highlighting how it has evolved into a community made up of 10 member states, with Timor-Leste set to be elevated from its current observer status to become the 11th member.
“In a region that is as diverse as Southeast Asia, the success of ASEAN would not have been possible without the strong determination and commitment by member states to work together,” he stated.
He further emphasised that under Indonesia’s leadership and guided by the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, cooperation has been strengthened to sustain its relevance in responding to regional and global challenges.
The celebration concluded with the ceremonial cutting of the nasi tumpeng, a significant dish in Indonesia, and a musical performance by young angklung players from Jakarta’s Sekolah Perkumpulan Mandiri school. The lively celebration was also broadcast live through ASEAN’s website and social media channels.
Embedded in the celebration was a strategic discussion entitled “Toward the ASEAN Indo-Pacific forum 2023”, organised by the Indonesian foreign ministry. Key speakers such as M Arsjad Rasjid, Mahendra Siregar and Ajeng Parameswari shared their insights.
Earlier in the day, President Jokowi, along with Kim Hourn, Marsudi, and ambassadors, took the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) from Bundaran HI station to attend the celebration. A special ASEAN MRT card was launched specifically for the occasion.
The anniversary celebration was also marked by two separate events. The second ASEAN-Maybank scholarship ceremony awarded bursaries to five ASEAN nationals, inaugurating the first scholarship programme between the ASEAN secretariat and an ASEAN accredited entity.
Concurrently, the fourth annual ASEAN Online Sale Day (AOSD) was launched, heralding the largest online shopping event in Southeast Asia.
In the spirit of unity and growth, these celebrations underlined the bloc’s ongoing commitment to fostering connections, prosperity and collaboration across the region.
AOSD is more than just a shopping event; it’s a unifying initiative that brings together the best of ASEAN’s goods and services on a single e-commerce platform.
Connecting vendors and consumers across the region, it showcases the diverse products and talents that Southeast Asia has to offer.
The initiative carries significant hopes for the future, aiming to further accelerate the regional shift towards digital platforms.
By encouraging consumers and businesses to engage in e-commerce, AOSD recognises digital integration as a crucial driver of ASEAN’s economic growth.
