FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2009

The ASEAN Leadership Forum is an Annual Forum organized since 2001 by the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) and the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta with the strong support of the then ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong.  The current ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan continued the support given to the Forum when he delivered the Keynote Address at the 5th Forum held in Singapore in June 2008.

The ASEAN Leadership Forum brings together key stakeholders in ASEAN’s Future – Government, Business, Civil Society and Academia to discuss the key leadership challenges facing ASEAN.  These Public Forums have stimulated interactive discussions on the future and relevance of ASEAN and what ASEAN means to the people of Southeast Asia.  Past Forums have included Special Sessions with women and young leaders, business leaders and thought leaders.

In June 2008, this quality brand, the ASEAN Leadership Forum was held in Singapore and co-organised by ASLI and the leading Think Tank – the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies – ISEAS Singapore with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.  Singapore was the venue last year being the ASEAN Chair.  This year with Thailand assuming the ASEAN Chair, the Forum shifts to Bangkok with ASLI collaborating with the ASEAN AFFAIRS – a leading ASEAN publication as the co-organiser.

2009 is a challenging year for ASEAN.  With the ASEAN Charter coming into effect this year following the signing by the ASEAN Heads at the last Summit in Singapore and the ratifications by all ASEAN member countries, ASEAN has a new beginning.  Yet, with the unfolding of the global economic crisis the economies of the ASEAN countries faces an economic tsunami – the worst in over a decade since the last Asia Financial Crisis in 2008.  ASEAN continues to face economic challenges brought about by the global economic crisis – rising unemployment, shrinking exports, business closures.  However, ASEAN still has a tremendous future ahead with its young population, vast natural resources and a combined market of 550 million people.  The promise of ASEAN is yet to be realized.

The 6th ASEAN Leadership Forum convening in Bangkok will take stock of the critical issues facing ASEAN after the global economic crisis, evaluate the strategic challenges ahead, search for consensus on what needs to be done and identify emerging business and investment opportunities.  This is the Forum for leaders of ASEAN’s business community, civic organizations and academic institutions to come together to re-affirm their confidence in ASEAN’s future.

• See the 6th ASEAN Leadership Forum program with pictures and presentation.

• See the list of Corporate, Government, Think-tank leaders who attended.

ASEANAFFAIRS - The only global publication from Southeast Asia.	ASIAN STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (ASLI)
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