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This year, Indonesia takes over the stewardship of ASEAN with enthusiasm and renewed commitment. During the handover ceremony in Phnom Penh in November 2022, President Joko Widodo declared that under Indonesia tutelage, the regional grouping will promote greater relevancy and boost Southeast Asia's position as a hub of economic growth, in line with Jakarta's selected theme of "Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth".

Capitalizing with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat which was convened on 4 February 2023 in Jakarta, ASEAN, under the helm of Indonesia looks set to push further the ASEAN-led principles and guidelines, enhance organization's effectiveness and dynamism in managing its own affairs as well as external relations with all great powers so as to maintain Asean relevance.

However, this year the region continues to witness seismic shifts in geopolitics and geo-economics from within and abroad, holding back the bloc's central role as a credible driver for peace and stability, if ASEAN continues to adopt a 'business as usual' approach.

Given the country's regional and global affluence, Indonesia as Chair of ASEAN cannot afford to be seen as a benign leader and as such should make clear at early stage of Indonesia's renewed leadership of the bloc to mobilize the much need unity and centrality to address Asean's persisting issues such as internal shortfalls and regional and global flashpoints related to Myanmar crisis, the South China Sea, war in Ukraine, major powers competition and other functional priorities such as regional health, economic recovery post Covid-19, food security, energy transition, digital transformation, climate change, and the decline of democratic values, just to name a few.

Against this backdrop, this the public lecture will shed more light on Indonesia's acumen over the prospect and challenges that lie ahead this year awaiting the regional bloc's swift actions and resolutions.

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 About our distinguished speakers: 

Dr. Denis Suarsana is the Country Director of the KAS Foundation Office Indonesia and Timor-Leste, based in Jakarta. Previously, he was Deputy Head of the Department Strategy and Future of Labor at the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), responsible for substantive and political strategic issues, among other things. From 2016 to 2018, Dr. Suarsana worked as a desk officer for Poland at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. He holds a PhD in Economics and studied Politics and European Studies in Germany, England and Poland.

How to join this session?

We are extending invitation to partners and relevant stakeholders. Public audience can also register here for the event here. 

For more information, please contact Mr. Soth Chhayheng, Program Manager for Foreign Affairs, KAS Cambodia. 

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