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21 Aug 2023
On 8 August 2023, the SweCham team had the opportunity to go to the C Asean forum (CaF 2023) for the 56th anniversary of ASEAN at the C ASEAN Auditorium, CW Tower. The event focused on ASEAN as an 'Epicentrum of growth', emphasising collaboration between the ASEAN member states in how they can move forward in making Southeast Asia a centre of economic growth.
The forum was opened by the Vice Chairman of C Asean, Mr. Polapatr Suvarnazorn, and featured several different speakers. H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the Secretary General of Asean, voiced his thoughts on what has been done in the Asean Vision 2025 and what will be done in Vision 2045. Followed by H.E. Mr. Rachmat Budiman, the ambassador of Indonesia in Thailand spoke on the contributions created during the Indonesian chairmanship. H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Secretary General of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC) and former Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Thailand discussed the challenges that ASEAN faces in the coming years, focusing on the importance of unity within ASEAN and a global shift in the global power balance. Ms. Usana Berananda, the Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand, emphasised the importance of sustainable development. Lastly, the ASEAN Youths speech contest winner, Ms. Zeinab Abbaci from the University of Indonesia, made an incredible speech on the importance of diversity, shared heritage and ASEAN Unity.
The forum concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of ASEAN, followed by networking and the introduction of further opportunities to explore the ideas put forward.
