🎯 Main Takeaway

On 23rd October 2026, France and Indonesia held a meeting of flavours.

As the Embassy of France in Indonesia, Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI), in partnership with Alliance française in Indonesia, Business France, and Disciples Escoffier Indonesia, launched Rendez-Vous Rasa: France–Indonesia Gastronomy Week 2026, scheduled for 23rd September to 4th October across Indonesia.

Formerly known as Le Goût de France, the upcoming events within Rendez-Vous Rasa offer chefs, culinary professionals, educational institutions, and the public from both countries a chance to promote their respective gastronomic heritage and exchange culinary expertise.

One highlight of the opening ceremony is Chef I Kadek Sumiarta, the winner of Jeunes Talents Escoffier in May 2022, representing Indonesia. Mentored by France’s Chef Jean-Yves Leuranguer, this pair is a true testament to what France-Indonesia culinary collaboration can achieve.

📡 Why it’s on our radar

The events within Rendez-Vous Rasa 2026 include a tour of French culinary arts across Indonesia’s regions and a collaboration with one of Indonesia’s most highlighted gastronomy tourism attractions:

• 🍽️ The “menu à la française” initiative: around 150 restaurants in 40 cities from Medan to Merauke are offering French or French-inspired dishes, with IFI branches across the nation hosting cooking workshops, allowing Indonesian locals to experience French cuisine

• 👨‍🍳 Two-state Michelin chef tour & Collaboration with Wonderful Indonesia: chef Stéphane Carrade will tour Indonesia from 23rd to 30th September, where he will join hands with Indonesian chefs Degan Septoadji and Wayan Ari Wibowo to mark the opening of Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026.

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⚠️ Why it’s important

🌍 This initiative is a prime example of “gastro-diplomacy,” using food as a formal bridge to strengthen bilateral ties between France and Indonesia. Signaling that France seeks long-lasting connections with Indonesia.

Beyond diplomatic symbolism, by linking French gastronomy with Indonesia’s gastronomy and hospitality programs, the initiative fosters vital exchanges of knowledge on sustainable sourcing practices, biodiversity preservation, and innovation. It projects both nations as equal cultural powerhouses.

Food is not merely a way to celebrate tradition and culture, but also a bridge between the countries for future generations.

Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana highlighted that the meeting of Indonesian flavours and French expertise is a tangible celebration of friendship, sustainability, and cultural richness.

🎓 How Rendez-vous Rasa connects to culinary education in Indonesia

Beyond the experience of cuisines, the festival also impacts culinary education within Indonesia on multiple fronts:

• 👨‍🏫 Cooking workshops: Fabrice Danniel, Deputy Director of Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, is leading hands-on cooking workshops with university partners across the archipelago.

• ✈️ Indonesian-French Culinary Arts Apprenticeship program (ARIF): continues to send Indonesian culinary students to France for rigorous Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnelle (CAP) certification, preparing the next generation of culinary professionals.

• French Indonesian Training of Trainers on French Cooking for Vocational Education Training (FITT): In collaboration with Disciples Escoffier Indonesia, the program aims to promote long-term transmission of culinary knowledge by strengthening Indonesian culinary teachers and trainers in French culinary arts.

According to French Ambassador Fabien Penone, the cooperation goes beyond showcasing cuisine; it builds lasting connections and mutual inspiration between professionals and youth.

🏠 Why it Hits Home

• 🍴 The festival is highly accessible to the public. Diners from Medan to Merauke can participate simply by visiting local participating restaurants.

• 🏙️ Rather than centralising events in Jakarta, the partnership relies heavily on a decentralised network of IFI and Alliance Française branches in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Makassar, Medan, and Semarang.

• 🌐 Both nations are leveraging their culinary ecosystems—from Disciples Escoffier Indonesia to Politeknik Pariwisata campuses—to create a unified gastronomic network.

🤝 Culinary and Sustainability

Beyond cultural exchange, sustainability begins with how food is sourced, prepared, used, and eventually discarded.

Chef Stéphane Carrade’s culinary philosophy treats gastronomy and sustainability as inseparable.

To drive real change beyond the kitchen, he provides producers supplying his restaurant with reusable boxes to replace polystyrene and plastic packaging, earning him the Michelin Green Star.

Globally, 1 in 13 people goes hungry, yet over $1 trillion worth of food is thrown away every year, producing waste that could feed 1.26 billion people yearly.

Food waste happens most in household-made products (60%), followed by restaurants (28%) and grocery stores (12%), with rotting waste driving 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Food products and takeaway services generate massive amounts of single-use trash, from plastic containers and foam boxes to disposable lids and wrappers.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), packaging accounts for 36% of all global plastic pollution, with food-related items ranking among the most common plastic litter polluting our environment.

Ultimately, sustainability in gastronomy is about preserving the ecological foundations that make culinary traditions possible in the first place.

If biodiversity loss and environmental degradation continue unchecked, ingredients that define regional cuisines risk disappearing entirely, taking with them centuries of culinary heritage, traditional knowledge, and cultural identity embedded in every dish.

🏝️ The Regional Stake

Gastronomy can function simultaneously as cultural diplomacy, economic diplomacy, tourism promotion, and human-capital development.

The diplomatic value increases when the food is connected to a wider national ecosystem, and Rendez-Vous illustrates this model at the bilateral level; it connects French diplomacy, education, professional exchanges, sustainability, tourism, and culinary heritage without erasing Indonesia’s gastronomic identity.

Southeast Asia already provides several examples of this approach:

• Thailand, Global Thai Initiative: Supporting Thai restaurants abroad, expanding markets for Thai products, and cuisine as a tool of tourism and cultural diplomacy

• Indonesia, Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy: Uses Indonesia’s diverse culinary heritage to strengthen tourism, promote local culinary businesses and products, and integrate Indonesia’s food as a part of the country’s international identity

• Malaysia, Malaysia Kitchen for the World: A government-backed campaign designed to promote Malaysian cuisine through restaurants, food products, chefs, and culinary events as part of supporting trade, tourism, and national branding

• Cambodia, The Taste of Angkor cookbook and Angkor Kitchen: Initiative that equips Cambodian diplomatic missions with knowledge and resources to promote Khmer cuisine abroad to support Cambodia’s cultural and economic diplomacy

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🏁 Bottom Line

Rendez-vous Rasa 2026 proves that gastronomy is much more than what is served on a plate; it is a universal platform for cultural exchange.

Need More Angles?

UN Environment Programme UNEP Waste Pollution 101

(DEV/FRD/JUN/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

On 11 September 2026, at the Open Session of the 21st ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education (SOM-ED) in Jakarta, the ASEAN Foundation formally secured backing for AI Ready ASEAN Powered by AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific.

The second phase of its flagship AI literacy programme is now folded into a larger regional financing vehicle.

• 🤝 Coalition, Not Solo Act

  The programme is co-run with AVPN and backed by Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), running through the end of 2028.

• 🎓 The Numbers

  More than 1.7 million K-12 students and teachers, plus university lecturers and staff, across ASEAN Member States.

• 💡 Strategic Pivot

  Phase 1 built awareness. Phase 2 focuses on applied AI skills—integrating AI responsibly into teaching, learning, research, and workforce preparation.

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📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

The announcement lands at a moment when ASEAN’s education and digital-economy tracks are converging fast:

• 🚀 Proof of Concept, Already Delivered

  The original AI Ready ASEAN launched in October 2024 with a US$5 million grant from Google.org, aiming to equip 5.5 million people across all ten member states through a train-the-trainer model.

  It has since reached more than five million beneficiaries through AI literacy initiatives, enabled over 100,000 learners to complete in-depth AI training, and empowered more than 3,000 master trainers across the region.

• 💰 Bigger Money, Bigger Machine

  Phase 2 now sits inside AVPN’s AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific, which grew from an initial US$15 million commitment to include a further US$10 million from Google.org, and has already selected 18 Local Training Providers for its worker-facing track.

  That same fund is bankrolling a parallel effort, AIM ASEAN, aimed squarely at MSMEs through nine local partner organisations spread across Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Singapore.

• 🗓️ Timing is the Story

  This SOM-ED announcement doesn’t sit in isolation; it lands weeks after the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit flagged inclusive digitalisation as a Track-Two priority for the region’s Vision 2045 roadmap, and months before the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which explicitly folds in AI governance, is due for signing at the 49th ASEAN Summit this November.

  DEFA negotiations concluded in May 2026, and the agreement is now targeted for signature at the 49th ASEAN Summit in November 2026.

📖 What’s Actually New in Phase 2

Unlike Phase 1’s broad-based awareness campaigns, this iteration routes delivery through Local Implementing Partners (LIPs) selected per member state.

These partners will work directly with national education ministries to localise curricula, ensuring they align with domestic AI and education priorities rather than duplicating them. 🛠️

Beyond training, the programme will convene regional and national stakeholder meetings, bringing together government officials, AI practitioners, academics, civil society, and beneficiaries to feed concrete evidence into policy design.

The 4th Regional Meeting is set for December 2026 in Singapore. 🏛️

The programme is explicitly pegged to three region-wide instruments: the ASCC Strategic Plan 2026–2030, the AEC Strategic Plan 2026–2030, and the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030.

The latter was only just adopted at the 14th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting in Singapore in July 2026, marking Singapore’s assumption of the ASEAN Education Sector chairmanship for 2026–2027 under the theme ‘Strengthening ASEAN through Education’.

🌍 Key Voices: Moving from Awareness to Application

Phase 1 proved that ASEAN’s youth and communities are eager to adopt AI when given the right tools.

Moving forward, the mandate shifts from basic awareness to embedding practical skills directly into the region’s education systems to prepare the future workforce.

“Through Phase 2... we are not just focused on raising awareness about AI, but also equipping the region’s education systems with practical AI skills.” — Dr Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director, ASEAN Foundation

With AI literacy now categorised as a fundamental necessity, the programme’s funders are backing a pivot toward deeper, applied training intended to reach millions of students.

To achieve this, the initiative places teachers at the absolute centre of the technological transition. 👩‍🏫

“Educators play a central role in ensuring that learners across Southeast Asia can use this technology responsibly and effectively.” — Marija Ralic, Head of Google.org Asia Pacific

The ultimate test remains on-the-ground delivery. AVPN is tasked with channelling the fund to local implementing partners in the areas that need it most, ensuring the top-down regional mandate actually translates into scalable classroom practice. 🏗️

“This programme shows how coordinated regional action can turn AI readiness into real, measurable outcomes for teachers, students, and lecturers.” — Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO, AVPN

⚠️ Why This Matters

• 🔗 The Demographic Clock is Ticking:

  Southeast Asia sits on a massive youth dividend — nearly a third of its 660 million people are under 20. As the region’s digital economy races toward a projected US$1 trillion by 2030 (potentially doubling to US$2 trillion if DEFA succeeds), the pressure to upskill is acute. Against these macro figures, training 1.7 million students isn’t just an educational target; it is a baseline economic necessity. 📈

• 🤖 Classrooms and Commerce are Now Linked:

  By housing the education-focused AI Ready ASEAN and the MSME-driven AIM ASEAN under the exact same funding umbrella, the ASEAN Foundation is placing a calculated bet. The logic is clear: classroom literacy and small-business tech adoption must reinforce each other. This directly mirrors the dual-track strategy flagged at the recent ASEAN Think Tanks Summit.

• ⚖️ Public Mandates on Private Money:

  The programme exposes a familiar structural tension in the region’s digital ambitions. It runs on philanthropic capital (Google.org and the ADB) rather than domestic education budgets. As ATTS delegates rightly pointed out, ASEAN excels at designing ambitious frameworks but routinely struggles with long-term accountability and delivery once external funding cycles end. 💸

• 🧩 A Live Governance Dry Run:

  With DEFA negotiations closed and a November signature looming, AI governance is explicitly on the regional docket. Watching how AI Ready ASEAN navigates its rollout across ten distinct national education ministries will serve as a live stress test. It will reveal whether member states truly possess the institutional capacity to uphold the high-level commitments DEFA is about to formalise. 🏛️

🚀 Moving Forward

From Pilot to Institutionalisation:

The pathway now runs: LIP selection and ministry coordination ➡️ curriculum localisation per member state ➡️ training delivery through to 2028 ➡️ December’s 4th Regional Meeting in Singapore feeding into policy recommendations ➡️ convergence with DEFA’s November signature and the next cycle of ASEAN Summits.

📌 The Bottom Line

This is less a new initiative than a maturing one.

The ASEAN Foundation is converting a two-year awareness campaign into an institutionalised, ministry-coordinated skilling pipeline just as the region’s top economic instrument for AI governance heads toward signature.

🔍 Need More Angle?

• ALLEN & GLEDHILL ASEAN member states conclude negotiations on landmark Digital Economy Framework Agreement

• ANTARA Helping Small Businesses in Southeast Asia Tap into AI: ASEAN Foundation

• ASIANEWS Brunei to work with ASEAN on future-ready education agenda

• BERNAMA AI Usage Widespread In Ho Chi Minh City, But Literacy Gaps Persist: Study

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(ARS/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The United Nations (UN) held the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from 8 September 2026 to 7 September 2027, at the UN headquarters in New York.

All 193 UN member states were invited to join the year-long session, including the General Assembly High-level Week 2026, held from 18 to 28 September. The week included several high-level meetings and activities, including the General Debate.

🗣️ What Is the General Debate?

The General Debate ran from 22 to 28 September 2026, under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All”.

The theme highlights the UN’s commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to address global challenges through collaboration and transformative action.

During the one-week period, heads of state and delegates from UN member states share their views and priorities on global issues. They also discuss solutions, ways to restore international trust, and ways to promote collective action for peace, equal human rights, and sustainable development.

“We must defend the Charter without double standards, protect civilians without exception, ensure humanitarian access without obstruction, shield humanitarian personnel without fail, advance nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament without delay, and demand accountability without fear or favour.” - António Guterres, UN Secretary General.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

There are several ongoing global issues that need to be addressed by the UN:

• Eroding trust: Public trust in the UN is declining because of concerns about the organisation’s ability to take concrete action on major conflicts and apply international law equally.

• Global rivalries: Competition for influence between major powers such as the US, China and Russia is reshaping global politics and the economy.

• Regional conflicts: Major conflicts continue in several parts of the world, including Israel-Palestine, US-Israel-Iran, Russia-Ukraine, and conflicts across Africa.

• Strong unilateralism: Some major powers tend to act independently to pursue their own interests rather than prioritise dialogue and diplomatic efforts.

• The rise of AI: Rapid technological growth, including artificial intelligence (AI), is helping human activities but also creating new risks and threats to humanity.

• Climate change: Rising global temperatures remain a major threat to the planet, driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions.

⚠️ Why Does It Really Matter?

There are several global impacts caused by these ongoing issues:

• Institutional reform: The UN needs institutional reform, especially regarding its veto power, which can conflict with the principle of multilateralism. It also needs to apply international law equally, without prioritising the national interests of specific countries.

• Global fragmentation: Countries worldwide are becoming more divided by their political choices, including support for specific major powers, blocs, or alliances, which can weaken multilateral cooperation.

• Global uncertainty: Global conflicts are increasing economic uncertainty, disrupting commodity supply chains and contributing to higher energy and food prices.

• Humanitarian crisis: Regional conflicts have triggered humanitarian crises, including thousands of deaths, millions of people being displaced and growing hunger.

• Strengthening multilateralism: Growing unilateralism has encouraged some countries to form or strengthen multilateral groups such as BRICS, giving emerging and developing countries in the Global South a greater voice in global decision-making based on transparency, mutual respect and dialogue.

• Extreme weather: Climate change is changing weather patterns, causing extreme droughts and heavy monsoons that can damage agricultural crops and the environment.

🏡 Why This Hits Home?

Southeast Asia is home to nearly 700 million people and represents one of the world’s major economic regions. The region consists of 11 ASEAN member states with different histories, political systems, levels of development and national interests.

Each member state has its own priorities and may not always agree on how to address regional and global crises. However, ASEAN continues to uphold multilateralism, unity and centrality by keeping dialogue open and managing the differences.

All ASEAN member states attended the UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2026, but only 10 countries delivered speeches during the General Debate. Myanmar was the only Southeast Asian country that did not take part in the General Debate.

🇲🇲 Why Didn't Myanmar Join?

This is linked to the ongoing dispute over Myanmar’s representation at the UN. Myanmar’s representative to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, was dismissed by the military government on 27 February 2021, following the military coup on 1 February 2021.

However, the UN continued to recognise Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint as Myanmar’s leaders, allowing Kyaw Moe Tun to continue representing Myanmar there.

The military government, led by Min Aung Hlaing, who was also elected as Myanmar’s new president, has sought to change the country’s representation at the UN.

It has written to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, asking for Kyaw Moe Tun to be removed and accusing him of using government funds without authorisation.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian countries delivered similar views on how to address various global issues, mainly focusing on Palestine’s independence, institutional reform, multilateralism and AI. However, each country placed different emphasis on its own policy priorities.

🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam: Equal International Law, Palestine Statehood

Brunei Darussalam stated that multilateralism is not just a concept, but an assurance that sovereignty and territorial integrity will be respected, every nation has a voice, and international law must protect the weak.

This principle should be applied to resolving conflicts, especially in Palestine, including Gaza and the West Bank, where people have suffered for generations due to mass destruction, loss of lives, discrimination, illegal settlements and forced displacement from their homes and land.

The kingdom urged the UN to apply international law and the UN Charter equally to all countries, address the root causes of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and work towards realising a two-state solution.

“International law and the principles of the charter must apply equally to everyone. There cannot be one standard for some and another for others. A lasting peace requires more than managing the consequences of conflict. It requires addressing its root cause and realizing the Palestinian people's legitimate right to self-determination and an independent state of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” - Prince Abdul Mateen, Brunei Darussalam Foreign Affairs Minister.

Brunei Darussalam also called on the UN to reform and adapt to current global conditions, restore trust, ensure rules are respected, keep dialogue open, manage differences peacefully, strengthen its ability to prevent crises, and deliver outcomes that meaningfully improve people’s lives.

🇰🇭 Cambodia: Rebuilding Trust

Cambodia agreed that trust and confidence among nations and multilateral institutions are eroding because of growing geopolitical rivalries, regional conflicts, and transnational threats.

Cambodia experienced a similar situation during its border conflict with Thailand in July and December last year, which temporarily halted bilateral cooperation.

However, both sides agreed to sign a ceasefire deal to end the conflict, creating more room for dialogue and rebuilding trust. They also agreed to move forward and live side by side in peace based on mutual respect, while seeking to deliver mutual benefits.

“Trust is not restored by declaration alone. It is earned through consistency, when commitments are honoured, international law is respected, disputes are settled by peaceful means, and sovereignty must remain a principle, fundamental principle of international relations. Rebuilding trust is therefore not merely desirable. It is essential to the future of our bilateral relations and to a shared interest in lasting peace and good neighbourly relations” - Sokhonn Prak, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

In addition, Cambodia urged all UN member states to pay attention to the rapid development of technology, especially AI. While AI can accelerate national development and create new opportunities, it can also pose security risks if misused for online scams and transnational crime.

🇮🇩 Indonesia: Multilateralism, Palestine Statehood

Indonesia, home to 280 million people with diverse cultures and religions, has applied multilateralism to safeguard its identity, unity, and sovereignty.

According to Indonesia, diversity and multilateralism are not challenges to overcome, but differences to manage, respect and turn into strengths when facing various challenges and maintaining national resilience.

As a result, the same principle of multilateralism can also be applied at the UN to address and resolve global conflicts, while promoting peace, stability and sustainable development based on international law.

Palestine is one of the biggest tests of multilateralism, especially in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the situation in the West Bank. Indonesia said Israel’s actions violate international law and UN principles.

Indonesia will continue to support Palestinian independence and a two-state solution, while working to strengthen unity, rebuild trust, keep dialogue open and promote peace based on international law.

“Indonesia will continue to stand with the Palestinian people, until their right to self-determination is fulfilled, and until an independent and sovereign State of Palestine is realized based on the Two-State Solution, in accordance with international law and internationally agreed parameters. Palestine is not only a question for one region, but also a test of whether the multilateral system can uphold the very principles it was created to defend, and whether it can deliver when it matters most” - Sugiono, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister.

🇱🇦 Laos: Palestine Statehood, Institutional Reform

Laos reaffirmed its concern over the situation in Palestine, especially the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and illegal settlements in the West Bank carried out by Israel.

Laos believes that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and supports a two-state solution to resolve the conflict.

“We remain deeply concerned by humanitarian catastrophe and amine reconstruction requirements in Gaza, as well as the mounting challenges in the West Bank to prevent the two state solution. Beyond the reach of the internet, the international community must secure a just, comprehensive and lasting peace on the last beat, and one that fulfills the legitimate rights to the Palestinian people to self-determination through an independent state of Palestine. With full membership in the United Nations.” - Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Laos Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Laos welcomed the UN initiative to improve the coherence, transparency and effectiveness of the UN system, followed by systemic reform to ensure a balanced approach to its main pillars: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

In addition, Laos remains committed to ASEAN centrality in the changing regional landscape. It reaffirmed that a united and integrated ASEAN is important for maintaining regional peace and multilateral stability.

🇲🇾 Malaysia: Palestine Statehood, Institutional Reform

Malaysia stated that the current situation in Gaza, Palestine, is devastating, with many children, families, medics, aid workers and journalists killed by Israeli forces.

Malaysia, along with many other UN member states, said it was exhausted by the ongoing situation and urged the UN to take concrete action to pursue justice for Palestinians, while calling for an immediate ceasefire and more humanitarian aid for Gaza.

Malaysia also urged the UN to reform the Security Council, including its veto system, which it said does not fully reflect multilateralism. Malaysia argued that the veto can give a few countries more influence than most UN members and slow efforts to resolve conflicts.

“We have consistently called for immediate ceasefire and unrestricted supply of aid. We have supported humanitarian work in Palestine. We have pushed for punitive actions towards Israel, and we have advocated for full Palestinian membership in this hall. And yet again and again, Mr. President, the collective will of this Assembly has encountered the silencing effect of the veto. It is the veto that must be challenged, and it is the veto that must be abolished” - Mohamad Haji Hasan, Malaysian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Malaysia called on the UN to restore trust among nations and ensure that international law is applied equally to all countries.

In addition, Malaysia highlighted the importance of regulating AI to prevent its misuse, as the technology is changing how economies operate, how societies function and how governments make decisions.

Furthermore, Malaysia called on AI investors to see the Global South as a partner in innovation, development and decision-making, not just as a market, customer or location for data centres.

🇸🇬 Singapore: Multilateralism, Skill Development

Singapore agreed that global rivalries between major powers can trigger fragmentation and disrupt global supply chains, affecting small countries such as Singapore.

However, major powers cannot act alone. They rely on other countries to support their long-term national interests through cooperation and partnerships, which can strengthen multilateralism.

Following this approach, Singapore said the same principle can also be used to address global crises, as countries rely on each other and need to resolve differences through diplomacy, peace and mutual respect.

Moreover, Singapore highlighted the need for the UN to formulate new rules to safeguard AI and control its use, including testing and evaluation before deployment, clear limits and mechanisms to intervene in autonomous systems to ensure they operate as intended.

In addition, Singapore urged greater investment not only in AI and infrastructure, but also in human skills across sectors to help people adapt and remain competitive amid rapid technological growth.

“Every one of us has to continue to invest in science, the talent, and the infrastructure that will drive AI forward. For small states, his entails especially developing our people, equipping them with the skills necessary to master and deploy AI quickly, widely, at scale and safely. The real productivity gains from AI comes not from the IT department, but from our businesses and from workers who have the skills and the tools.” - Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister.

Furthermore, Singapore urged the UN to pursue institutional reform to give member states a more equal voice, turn better ideas into concrete actions, and rebuild trust. This would enable countries to contribute more to regional and global prosperity and mutual benefits.

🇹🇭 Thailand: Rebuilding Trust

Thailand said global society is becoming more fragmented because of rapid technological growth and competition between major powers.

As a result, many countries are losing their ability to work together because trust among nations, institutions, and international rules is eroding. This can reduce shared responsibility and slow down cooperation and investment.

To address this problem, countries need to rebuild trust by addressing each other’s concerns, listening to different voices, and gaining more perspectives through dialogue, institutional reform and turning commitments into action.

Thailand has also experienced a similar loss of trust with Cambodia following the border conflict in July and December last year, which ended with a ceasefire after both sides pursued diplomatic efforts.

The two countries agreed to move forward by rebuilding trust, working together, sharing responsibility and strengthening cooperation to counter transnational crime and online scams along their shared border, while promoting mutual benefits and shared prosperity.

“Let me be clear Thailand has never sought conflict, but peace can only be built when we work together in earnest, and surely this will require genuine effort from our neighbour Cambodia. That same commitment guides our approach to Myanmar. Thailand supports peace, national reconciliation and a durable solution for Myanmar, We believe in constructive and calibrated re-engagement within ASEAN and in coordination with relevant partners, while encouraging concrete, concrete progress on the ground.” - Anutin Charnvirakul, Thai Prime Minister.

Thailand also urged the UN to strengthen multilateralism to maintain trust among its members, uphold equal human rights, and address global conflicts, especially the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

🇵🇭 The Philippines: Decolonisation, SDG Targets

The Philippines stated its support for ending all forms of apartheid, colonialism and racial discrimination. It also urged countries to resolve disputes and conflicts through diplomatic efforts based on international law, without using violence.

Following this statement, the Philippines called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged both sides to de-escalate tensions, exercise restraint, prioritise civilian protection and release all hostages.

As a result, the two-state solution remains a pathway to achieving peace between Israel and Palestine, allowing the two entities to live side by side in peace.

“The Philippines reaffirms its consistent and principled support for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. We firmly believe that the two state solution remains the only viable path to lasting and durable peace with Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security and all others respecting their peaceful coexistence.” - Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.

In addition, the Philippines urged the UN to pay more attention to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as only around 36% of targets are currently on track. It called for renewed political will, stronger partnerships and institutional reform within both the UN and the global financial architecture.

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste: Nuclear Weapons, Palestine Statehood

Timor-Leste stated that over the past decades, many countries have invested trillions of dollars in developing weapons, including nuclear weapons, to protect themselves during regional conflicts.

The existence of nuclear weapons can affect the balance of power, while countries without weapons of mass destruction could face greater risks during conflicts.

Timor-Leste called on US President Donald Trump to invite major military powers, especially nuclear-armed states, to sit together and make commitments not to use nuclear weapons, while also agreeing to reduce their nuclear arsenals.

“My invitation to President Trump, be audacious, be unpredictable, be visionary. Invite all nuclear powers and all major conventional military powers and industries, without exception, to a summit somewhere, maybe a town in Portugal, to talk on no first strike. Enhance regular communication between leaders of the nuclear powers, and draw their commitment on reduction of nuclear weapons, toward total deactivation and destruction of nuclear arsenals over a decade.” - Jose Ramos Horta, Timor-Leste President.

Timor-Leste also highlighted ongoing humanitarian crises around the world, including in Gaza, the West Bank, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar, which have killed thousands, displaced millions and caused hunger.

However, it said there has been no immediate response to address these crises, partly because of a lack of urgency in responding.

Specifically on Palestine, especially Gaza, Timor-Leste agreed with many UN member states on the need to pursue a two-state solution to resolve the conflict and allow Israelis and Palestinians to live together in peace and harmony.

In addition, Timor-Leste called for institutional reform at the UN, especially regarding the use of veto power, which it said is inconsistent with the principles of multilateralism, equality and sovereignty.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Institutional Reform, Palestine Statehood

Vietnam said the current global situation faces growing uncertainty due to the risk of confrontation, miscalculation, conflict, and large-scale war.

As a result, countries are becoming more fragmented, disrupting cooperation in trade, investment and development, while also eroding trust among nations and institutions.

To address this problem, Vietnam called for UN reform, especially within the Secretariat, General Assembly and Security Council, to make the organisation more democratic and inclusive and help restore trust.

The UN also needs to hear the voices of emerging and developing countries in the Global South and ensure their views are included in the organisation’s rule-making and decision-making processes.

In addition, Vietnam urged the UN to strengthen multilateralism to prevent wars, safeguard peace, promote cooperation, advance decolonisation, resolve conflicts and uphold the right to self-determination, with the aim of promoting peace, security, dignity and prosperity.

As a result, Vietnam supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, while highlighting the need to protect civilians, provide more humanitarian aid to Palestinians and ensure humanitarian access.

“Vietnam supports the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the two-state solution with an independent state of Palestine living peacefully alongside the state of Israel in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions in the Asia Pacific.”- To Lam, Vietnamese President.

🚀 Moving Forward…

Southeast Asian countries hope that, in the future, the strength of the UN will lie not in replacing states' responsibilities, but in its legitimacy and ability to build consensus, establish norms, develop rules, and mobilise global efforts to address common challenges and adapt to a changing world.

Trust in the international system is strengthened when promises are kept, international law is applied equally, dialogue is chosen over force, sovereignty is respected, and every nation, large or small, knows that its voice matters.

Global progress must uphold the spirit of humanity in relations among nations, safeguard their legitimate interests, and respect differences in history, culture and development conditions.

With a stronger UN and stronger multilateral cooperation, countries can work together to build a more peaceful, equitable, inclusive and better world for all.

📋 Beyond the Headline

A tense moment occurred before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his speech, when delegates from over 70 countries walked out during the General Debate on Thursday (24/9).

Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar were among the Southeast Asian countries that joined the walkout as a form of protest against Israel’s alleged war crimes, genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as the occupation of the West Bank.

In addition, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, alleging that he was responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally directing attacks against civilians, as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.

📌 The Bottom Line

The UN General Debate is not just a platform for countries to deliver speeches, but also a place to build trust, strengthen dialogue and find common solutions to global challenges.

The UN must not only respond to crises, but also prevent them, keep competition under control, maintain dialogue, manage differences peacefully, and ensure that science and technology create opportunities rather than new global divides.

Restoring trust is not just about making promises, but also about treating all countries equally. Managing global change is not only about progress, but also about ensuring everyone benefits and the UN delivers results for all.

Sustainable peace is not built through force, but through diplomacy, respect for sovereignty and international law. Through multilateral cooperation, countries can work together to build a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable future.

🔍 Need More Angles?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of The Union of Myanmar, Statement regarding the Illegal Activities of Kyaw Moe Tun, Former Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations

United Nations, General Assembly High-level Week 2026

United Nations, Read what was said at the UN

United Nations Web TV, General Assembly

(NGO/QOB)

🎯 Main Takeaway

Southeast Asia is quickly becoming a hub for data centres.

As of 2026, the region hosts more than 2000 data centres across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, according to Ember, a research organisation.

By 2030, investment is estimated at 30 billion USD, according to Turner & Townsend, a multinational professional services company.

This rapid expansion stems from the scramble for AI infrastructure across the region.

In addition, Southeast Asia's rapid digital adoption among its citizens means tech giants can quickly capitalise on this growing market.

However, building data centres in Southeast Asia is not simple. Many factors must be considered, including Southeast Asia’s tropical climate, data centres' energy demand, and the pressing issue of water supply.

📡 Why it’s on our radar

The rapid expansion of data centre construction is unlikely to stop in the coming years; therefore, it’s important to highlight the challenges it entails.

Beyond the challenges, it is important to highlight the environmental impact of data centres and how the region has responded to their rapid expansion.

⚠️ Why it’s Important

Firstly, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2024, the average data centre requires 5-10 megawatts (MW) to be operational.

However, large-scale or hyperscale data centres, which are increasingly common, demand 100 MW, which is equivalent to the electricity demand of 350.000 to 400.000 electric cars.

With Southeast Asia scrambling to solve its current energy crisis, this figure presents a massive challenge.

Secondly, the challenge of cooling. In tropical climates such as Southeast Asia, keeping high-density chips within their operating temperature range requires more energy and large volumes of water.

According to the IEA, global data centre water consumption is currently around 560 billion litres per year, and is estimated to rise to 1200 billion litres by 2030.

Lastly, the timing. While hyperscale data centres can be constructed within a year, energy transmission lines take far longer to plan, approve and construct. This creates a mismatch: demand can outpace supply.

According to Bain & Company a management consulting firm, grid infrastructure remains a binding constraint for region requiring 5 to 15 years to build.

These are only a few challenges data centre construction creates, which further spill over into environmental challenges.

🌱 How AI data centres impact the environment

Rising energy demand is the main environmental concern in Southeast Asia.

As figures from multiple sources suggest, data centres are among the most resource-intensive assets in the modern economy.

With the rapid expansion of data centres in Southeast Asia, electricity demand is expected to rise sharply, pushing another underlying issue in the region: its main energy source.

According to the IEA, fossil fuels continue to dominate the region's energy mix, with coal as the largest share. 

These sources increase the region's emissions, which drive other issues such as global warming, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruption.

Data centres water consumption demands is another emerging challenge on the environment, closed loop water reuse systems remain limited as according to ASEAN guide for sustainable data centre development making it so a large portion of the water used for cooling data centres be lost while the sum that comes back can be contaminated.

Additionally, the amount of water taken can critically harm direct drinking water supplies and water used for farming, raising concerns about water shortages in data-centre-heavy areas such as Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor in Malaysia, according to Greenpeace, an environmental activist group.

Concerns over noise pollution will also emerge once data centres are operational. As Greenpeace highlights, the constant humming of cooling systems, whirring of fans, and rumbling of electricity generators can make data centres emit noise ranging from 55 to 85 dB, possibly exceeding levels considered safe for hearing. This largely affects communities around data centres.

Overall, data centres can impact the environment through their energy demand.

Energy industries are pressured to generate more, which can increase emissions; the water supply needed can cause land subsidence and contamination, and noise pollution affects the lives of citizens in the areas where data centres are located.

🏠 Why it Hits Home

In Southeast Asia, locals can already feel the impact of data centres.

According to a news report by The Straits Times, a Singaporean news outlet, it describes the conditions of residents in Johor, Malaysia. They worry about their health and water supply as a data centre is being built next door.

As dust clouds from the construction became a daily occurrence for the residents, impacting day-to-day activities, the situation has spilt over into open protests against the construction.

🌐 How ASEAN has Responded

In December 2025, a new regional framework to handle the construction of data centres was released by ASEAN.

Designed for policymakers and regulators, the document aims to explain the trilemma that must be balanced for data centre construction, which is:

• Digital expansion: scaling capacity for AI and cloud services.

• Environmental sustainability: reducing carbon emissions, water, and waste footprints.

• Resilience and resource security: safeguarding essential resources like electricity grids and urban water supply chains.

The framework proposes 4 elements for sustainable data centre development, which are:

• Element & Renewable Integration: promotes measuring efficiency using Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and establishing predictable pathways for clear power procurement.

• GHG Emission & Operational Efficiency: promoting transparency regarding emissions and measuring performance using metrics

• Water Management & Cooling Innovation: targeting the challenge of water concerns directly, mandating measuring Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and taking into account local water stress

• Waste & Circular Economy: targeting waste that is generated by data centres’ frequent hardware refresh cycles, promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

🏁 Bottom line

While data centre construction supports the rapid expansion of digital adoption across Southeast Asia. it is important to remember the cost of this technology and why its environmental impact should not be taken lightly.

🔎 Need More Angles?

• AIINASIA: Why ASEAN’s Data Centre Boom Is Colliding With Its Power Grids

• DIGITAL IN ASIA: Who is Building AI Data Centres in Southeast Asia in 2026? A Comprehensive Infrastructure Map

• Analytic Insight: Why is Southeast Asia Becoming a Data Centre Hub?

• International Energy Agency (IEA): What the data centre and AI boom could mean for the energy sector

• Bain & Company: Southeast Asia’s Green Economy Report 2026

• ASEAN: ASEAN GUIDE FOR SUSTAINABLE DATA CENTRE DEVELOPMENT

• Greenpeace: Civil society calls for ban on data centres near residential areas

• The Strait Times: Locals left asking what comes next after Johor’s data centre rush swallows their villages

• International Energy Agency (IEA): Key Questions on Energy and AI

(FRD/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Cambodian National Constitution Day, marked on 24 September, commemorates the 1993 promulgation of the Constitution after decades of war and regime changes.

It marked Cambodia’s transition to constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy through a peace process shaped by domestic political compromise and international intervention.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

🌏 It reshaped Southeast Asia: Cambodia’s conflict had drawn in Vietnam, neighbouring states and Cold War powers. The 1991 peace settlement helped move the country from a regional conflict zone into Southeast Asia’s emerging post-Cold War order.

🇺🇳 It tested international peace-building: United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) oversaw elections, administration and refugee repatriation, making Cambodia a major case of UN-led post-conflict transition.

🇦🇸 It connects to ASEAN’s evolution: ASEAN’s six members at the time participated in the Paris peace process, while Cambodia later joined ASEAN in 1999. Its constitutional transition therefore sits within the region’s longer shift from Cold War conflict towards regional integration.

🎊 A Day of Lotus Tributes and Constitutional Reflection

Cambodia marked the 33rd anniversary of its Constitution on 24 September with ceremonies in Phnom Penh, including the main commemoration at the Constitution Monument near the Independence Monument.

• 🪷 Lotus tributes: Delegations from ministries, the Senate and National Assembly took turns laying lotus floral tributes at the monument, turning the anniversary into a collective state commemoration.

• 🏛️ A national political occasion: Acting Head of State Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet and National Assembly President Khuon Sudary marked the anniversary, with official messages highlighting the Constitution’s role in peace, stability, rule of law and national development.

• 📜 33 years on: Officials also revisited the Constitution’s origins in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and the 1993 UN-supervised elections, linking this year’s commemoration directly to Cambodia’s post-conflict transition.

• 📅 Why 24 September? The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 21 September 1993. Three days later, King Norodom Sihanouk signed the Royal Decree promulgating it at the Royal Palace, formally establishing the constitutional monarchy.

Share The Southeast Asia Desk

🇰🇭 33 Years Later: Why It Still Matters

• ⚖️ A living Constitution: Cambodia’s Constitution has been amended 11 times since 1993, including an amendment in 2025, showing that the framework created after the peace process continues to evolve.

• 🏛️ A political framework: The Constitution established the institutions through which Cambodia’s political system operates today, including the monarchy, Parliament and executive government.

• 🌏 A regional transition: Cambodia’s path from conflict to constitutional rule eventually brought it into ASEAN in 1999, connecting a once-divided conflict zone to Southeast Asia’s regional institutions.

• 🛡️ A different security landscape: The challenges facing Cambodia today are no longer the armed factional conflicts of the 1970s and 1980s. Cross-border issues such as online scams now require cooperation through the same regional architecture Cambodia joined after the peace process.

🌍 Beyond the Headlines

While Constitution Day anchors the national conversation, September in Cambodia is also buzzing with cultural and contemporary developments:

• 🌅 Angkor Wat Equinox: Between 19-21 September, crowds flocked to Siem Reap to witness a rare solar alignment where the sun rises perfectly over the central tower of Angkor Wat.

• 🌾 Pchum Ben preparations: The country is gearing up for Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day) in late September, one of the most sacred religious festivals driving mass travel to local pagodas.

• 🛡️ Cracking down on cybercrime: Cambodian authorities have recently intensified national and cross-border efforts to dismantle online scam syndicates, a major focal point in current regional diplomacy.

🌱 Bottom Line

A Constitution cannot erase the past, but it can help a country choose what comes next. Thirty-three years after Cambodia emerged from one of Southeast Asia’s darkest chapters, Constitution Day offers a moment to reflect on the distance travelled and the future still being built.

Need More Angle?

• Cambodianess Cambodia Celebrates 32nd Anniversary of Constitution

• Khmer Times Cambodia marks Constitution Day with civic responsibility

• United States Holocaust Memorial Musem Cambodia 1975–1979

(BRZ/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

India, as the BRICS Chair in 2026, hosted the 18th BRICS Summit from 12 to 13 September at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi. BRICS member states, partner countries, and international organisations attended the summit.

Under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, BRICS leaders discussed key global issues, including politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

🗺️ What is BRICS?

BRICS is a group of major emerging economies established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the group in September 2010.

BRICS membership has continued to grow. The group expanded to 11 members after Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined in January 2024, followed by Indonesia in January 2025.

Together, BRICS countries represent around 3.9 billion people, or 49.5% of the world’s population. They also account for around 26% of global trade and 40% of global GDP, and have already surpassed that of the G7, which accounts for around 28% of global GDP.

BRICS also has 10 partner countries: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. These countries are emerging economies from the Global South.

The group aims to strengthen economic and financial cooperation among its members, including by reducing reliance on the U.S., promoting trade in local currencies, and promoting multilateralism.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

BRICS leaders discussed several global issues during the two-day summit, covering international security, global governance, multilateralism, and economic affairs. These issues include:

• Global conflicts: Ongoing conflicts involving Russia-Ukraine, the US-Israel-Iran, Israel-Palestine, Myanmar, and several countries in Africa.

• Limited participation: Emerging markets and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) still have limited participation in global decision-making and international forums.

• Less multilateralism: Some major powers tend to act independently to pursue their own interests rather than prioritise dialogue and diplomatic efforts.

• US dollar dominance: The US dollar remains widely used for international payments, increasing economic vulnerability when local currencies weaken.

⚠️ Why It Matters?

These global issues are having a major impact on many countries, pushing them to look for solutions:

• Global uncertainty: The Russia-Ukraine and US-Israel-Iran conflicts can drive up energy and commodity prices, disrupt supply chains, and push countries to diversify their energy sources. Meanwhile, conflicts in Palestine, Myanmar, and several African countries have caused thousands of deaths and humanitarian crises, including the forced displacement of millions of people and food shortages.

• More representation: More groups and forums are needed to give emerging markets and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) a stronger voice in global discussions and ensure their concerns are heard and considered in global decision-making.

• Promote multilateralism: Countries need to work together to promote multilateralism, address global issues, and use dialogue and diplomacy to find solutions.

• Alternative payment systems: Alternative payment systems are needed to reduce dependence on the US dollar and help strengthen the use of local currencies.

🏡 Why This Hits Home?

Five Southeast Asian countries were involved in the BRICS Summit: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Indonesia is the only full BRICS member from Southeast Asia, after officially joining the group on 6 January 2025. Meanwhile, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are among the 10 BRICS partner countries, a status they gained on 24 October 2024.

The Philippines also joined the BRICS Summit as a guest from an outreach country, following its role as the ASEAN Chair in 2026.

📜 The New Delhi Declaration

The summit produced the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday (12/9), which was agreed by the leaders of BRICS member states. The declaration will serve as a roadmap to turn their commitments into concrete actions and results through cooperation and mutual support.

“We must work through partnership and collective action to bridge the gap between commitment and outcomes. The ‘New Delhi Declaration’ adopted today provides a clear direction for our collective resolve. It is now our responsibility to translate these commitments into tangible results.” — Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister and BRICS Chair

🤝 The Shared Commitment

BRICS leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the BRICS spirit of mutual respect, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, cooperation, and consensus.

The group also agreed to strengthen cooperation in three areas: politics and security, economic and financial matters, and culture and people-to-people ties. They aim to work together to promote peace, multilateralism, fairer global cooperation, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.

The bloc also recognised the important contribution of Partner countries. It said stronger cooperation with Emerging Markets and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can help promote solidarity and international cooperation.

💡 Global Conflict Solution

BRICS leaders expressed concern about ongoing conflicts in many parts of the world, which are increasing fragmentation in the international order and spreading to neighbouring countries.

The group urged all parties involved in conflicts to respect each state's sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, while stressing the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The bloc encouraged efforts through dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability. It also called for maximum restraint and urged all sides to avoid actions that could worsen the situation.

BRICS countries also committed to supporting Palestine’s full UN membership and reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state covering territories including Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

🏛️ Improving Global Governance

On the 20th anniversary of BRICS, BRICS leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reforming global governance and making international cooperation fairer, more effective, representative, democratic, and accountable.

The group also called for greater participation of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), especially from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, in global decision-making and international forums.

The bloc reiterated its support for reforming the United Nations (UN), including its Security Council, to make it more democratic, representative, effective, and efficient in addressing global challenges.

🌍 Strengthen Multipolarism

BRICS leaders recognise that strengthening multipolarism can create more opportunities for Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) to grow and benefit from fair and sustainable economic cooperation.

As a result, the group called on emerging markets and developing countries to strengthen dialogue and consultations to promote fairer global governance and mutually beneficial relations among nations.

The bloc also committed to upholding multilateralism to address global challenges that could threaten the world in the future, including climate change, terrorism, radicalisation, human trafficking, and transnational crime.

In addition, BRICS countries aim to strengthen partnership in knowledge sharing, capacity building, agriculture, food security, healthcare, disaster management, and energy diversification to drive innovation and create mutual benefits.

💰 The Local Currency Transaction

BRICS leaders recognised the BRICS Payment Task Force (BPTF) for its work on practical solutions for efficient cross-border payments among BRICS countries.

The group supported efforts to connect payment and messaging systems to promote trade and investment using local currencies, while respecting each country’s priorities.

The bloc encouraged the BPTF to continue developing fast, low-cost, accessible, efficient, transparent, and secure cross-border payment solutions among BRICS countries.

Five Southeast Asian countries also shared their views during the summit, highlighting the need for UN reform, respect for sovereignty, unification, and cooperation.

🇮🇩 Indonesia: Highlighting UN Reform

President Prabowo Subianto brought the message of the Bandung Spirit to bring the Global South together, especially countries from Asia and Africa that have gained independence. He called for their voices to be gathered and amplified so they can be heard more clearly in global decision-making.

He also shared his vision of building resilient nations by ensuring people have enough food, providing access to education, strengthening energy security by connecting energy systems, and promoting joint industrialisation to use resources better.

Prabowo also highlighted the need to reform the UN and international financial institutions to make them more representative, responsive, supportive, and focused on delivering concrete results for people, helping strengthen global resilience through multilateralism.

“Together we can build a stronger multilateral system that supports the needs and the interests of all nations, big and small, strong or weak. For this to succeed, we must keep the United Nations at the center of that system because the United Nations remains the only multilateral institution where all nations come together as equals.” - Prabowo Subianto, Indonesian President.

🇲🇾 Malaysia: Highlighting Sovereignty, Rejecting Colonialism

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said progress on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development remains uneven, as many countries face debt and financial difficulties.

He stressed that development financing should meet people’s basic needs and provide public goods without leaving countries with unsustainable debt.

He added that BRICS can offer geoeconomic benefits to its members by creating an integrated market, diversifying trade, and reducing overreliance on Western markets.

Anwar also highlighted that Israel’s aggression in the Middle East has gone too far, causing insecurity, higher inflation, and economic uncertainty in other countries. He urged an end to the aggression, respect for sovereignty, and the protection of civilians.

“Our position is clear. Sovereignty must be respected, civilians protected, and the arteries of the global economy kept out of the battlefield. Malaysia hopes BRICS will say plainly and unequivocally that any form of aggression against fellow countries, occupation, settler colonialism, or more in point, settler terrorism, cannot become destiny and no life weighs less for where it is lived.” - Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian Prime Minister.

🇹🇭 Thailand: Highlighting Global South Unification

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stressed that, amid a changing world order, Global South countries must work together to achieve concrete results.

Thailand supports a rules-based international order, stronger regional cooperation, and multilateralism. He also highlighted Thailand’s interest in working with BRICS on trade, investment, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, risk management, and financial reform.

He also mentioned the potential ASEAN-BRICS cooperation in food security, supply chains, and the digital economy. Thailand is ready to act as a bridge between the two regions.

🇵🇭 The Philippines: Highlighting ASEAN Priorities

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted ASEAN priorities on peace and security, economic prosperity, and people empowerment during the summit.

On peace, security, and stability, Marcos said regional and global peace depends on ASEAN centrality and continued dialogue based on international law. He highlighted the need for cooperation on maritime issues, disaster management, and climate security.

On economic prosperity, Marcos said ASEAN is improving regional connections to support inclusive growth, while strengthening supply chains, energy, and food security. ASEAN is also promoting green investment and climate-ready agriculture to support sustainability.

On people empowerment, Marcos stressed that ASEAN’s development agenda must remain centred on its people. This includes investing in young people, digital literacy, and resilient families, while protecting vulnerable groups to build strong and lasting social resilience.

“ASEAN’s enduring strength lies in consensus, bridge building, and constructive engagement across regions. By anchoring peace and stability, expanding prosperity corridors, and empowering our people, we turn shared aspirations into tangible realities,” - Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippine President.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Highlighting Development and Cooperation

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said Vietnam supports closer cooperation between BRICS and other regional and global organisations to promote peace, stability, and development. He also called for fair development opportunities, stronger dialogue, and multilateral system reform to better support developing countries.

He proposed three key actions: making economies more resilient and self-reliant; creating new and sustainable sources of growth; and turning cooperation in science, technology, and innovation into practical projects.

Through BRICS cooperation, Vietnam will strengthen trust and understanding while exploring opportunities in trade, investment, science and technology, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, education, tourism, and culture.

Looking ahead, Vietnam will work with BRICS members and partners to support economic resilience, self-reliance, and new growth drivers, while strengthening multilateral institutions to better serve developing countries.

📌 The Bottom Line

Multilateralism is not only about giving countries a voice, but also about working together to promote peace, strengthen global governance, and create fairer opportunities for developing countries.

BRICS focuses not only on economic cooperation, but also on building stronger partnerships in trade, technology, energy, food security, and other areas to support resilience and sustainable development.

🔍 Need More Angle?

Anwar Ibrahim, 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit - Open Session

BRICS, About BRICS

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, BRICS New Delhi Declaration: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (September 12, 2026)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, PM’s attendance at BRICS Summit in India advances Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy: FM

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs leads Thai delegation to the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, Republic of India

Presidential Communications Office, President Marcos highlights ASEAN priorities at 18th BRICS Summit Open Session

Sekretariat Presiden, Pernyataan Presiden Prabowo dalam Sesi Terbuka KTT BRICS India, 13 September 2026

(NGO/JUN/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

On 19 September 2026, the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) once again gathered a global consortium of think tanks, universities, civil society organisations, and international institutions for the seventh edition of Global Town Hall (GTH).

The event carried the theme “Calling for a Global U-Turn: Recentering Development, Reclaiming Humanity, Restoring Justice in a Crazi(er) World.”

The event brought together over 8300 participants from over 120 countries who attended and shared their perspectives in a virtual forum on the current state of the world.

FPCI is growing concerned that the current international system is drifting away from the principles that have long underpinned global peace and cooperation. The forum aims to connect East-West-North-South and elevate the perspectives of citizens and communities whose voices must shape national and multilateral decisions.

🔍 Why it’s on our Radar

Amid shifts in the global order, Southeast Asia is not merely adapting to these changes but also has the scope to help shape their direction.

As a region comprising countries with diverse interests and capacities, Southeast Asia plays a vital role in fostering dialogue, building cooperation, and bridging interests amid competition among major powers.

This makes the topics discussed at the Global Townhall 2026 highly relevant to the region. The issues covered range from shifts in the global order and development and technology to the future of multilateralism and the challenges facing South-East Asia.

ASEAN is not merely a party affected by global changes; it must also help shape the response. These efforts are evident in how countries in the region maintain strategic space, strengthen regional cooperation, and contribute to various international forums.

⚠️ Why it’s important

• The global order is changing faster than its institutions

The distribution of global power continues to shift, whilst international institutions face the challenge of adapting to increasingly complex conflicts, geopolitical competition, development disparities and fragmentation.

For Southeast Asia, this is crucial, as the region requires stability, openness, and strategic space to continue cooperating amid competition among major powers.

• Development cannot be separated from security

Various conflicts and geopolitical tensions divert attention and resources from the development agenda, while competing interests and limited access to economic opportunities can also make communities increasingly vulnerable.

Therefore, security is not only about conflict and defence but also about creating conditions that enable development and well-being to continue.

• Global cooperation is becoming harder when global problems require it most

Climate change, technology, digital security, inequality and cross-border conflicts all require cross-national cooperation.

Yet, diverging interests and increasing fragmentation are making cooperation increasingly difficult.

This poses a particular challenge for Southeast Asia, especially in maintaining spaces for dialogue and cooperation, including regional approaches such as ASEAN Centrality, particularly as global interests become increasingly diverse.

• Those affected by global changes need a voice in shaping them

Changes and developments in technology, the economy, security and development will ultimately have a direct impact on communities. However, they do not always have the opportunity to help shape policy.

Therefore, representation and participation are crucial to ensure that responses to global changes are not determined solely at the level of governments or institutions, but also take into account the needs of the communities experiencing them.

🤖 Technology, AI & Information

At the Global Townhall 2026, two sessions highlighted issues related to technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and information: ‘Reality Check: How to Live in the Age of Mass Manipulation and Deception’ and ‘Green Lights, Red Lines: How Far Should We Let AI Go?’

In these two sessions, a key point is that information moves faster than institutions can verify and respond to it.

• Information is moving faster than institutions can respond: The speed of information makes verification increasingly difficult, while manipulation can shape public perceptions and even justify real-world actions. Credibility and societal resilience are therefore becoming increasingly important.

“Manipulation is intentional.” – Ebrahim Rasool, former South African Ambassador to the United States

• AI is becoming a governance issue: As AI enters education, healthcare, finance, public services and security, the question is no longer only what AI can do, but who decides how it is used and where its boundaries lie.

• AI could deepen existing inequalities: Unequal access to data, computing power, capital and talent could widen the digital divide, while changes in the labour market may leave some groups struggling to adapt. AI also raises questions about how much decision-making should be delegated to systems.

“delegating the power of judgement.” – Dr WU Shenkuo, Senior Adviser to the United Nations on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime

• Middle powers have a role in shaping the rules: Rather than simply adopting technologies and regulations developed elsewhere, Southeast Asian countries can coordinate their positions on AI governance, digital inclusion and workforce transition, helping ensure that technological progress does not concentrate benefits and decision-making in the hands of a few.

Global Order & Multilateralism

Reforming Multilateral Governance and The United Nations (UN)

• Geopolitical Gridlock of the UN: The Security Council is often paralysed because a few powerful nations hold veto power, allowing a single country to block global action during major conflicts and human rights crises. This prevents swift diplomacy and keeps essential technical and humanitarian agencies from operating on the ground and delivering life-saving assistance to millions of people daily.

• Priorities and Structural Reform: The UN structure reflects the post-World War II era, which no longer matches today's global landscape. Meaningful reform requires updating the Security Council to include permanent representation for underrepresented regions, reworking the veto, and choosing proactive leadership that mediates peace rather than managing institutional decline.

• Inclusive, Transparent, and Financial Autonomy: The UN relies heavily on funding from a small group of wealthy nations, which can disproportionately influence its priorities. Establishing independent funding streams would give the institution financial independence. Decision-making must become more open by directly involving civil society, youth, and local communities rather than relying solely on closed-door government negotiations.

"People lose confidence in institutions when they perceive that they cannot fulfill the functions they were supposed to perform—when decisions appear distant from their lives, and when rules apply differently to the powerful on the one hand and to everybody else on the other." — H.E. Francisco Sagasti, Former President of Peru (2020–2021) & Member of Club de Madrid

Middle Powers, North-South Dynamics, and The Multipolar Order

• New Approach: the traditional "donor-recipient" model, where wealthy nations provide aid and set conditions for developing nations, is obsolete. As emerging economies in many countries have developed strong industries, technical innovation, and strategic influence, the world needs a shift toward balanced partnerships based on mutual respect, shared accountability, and equal responsibility.

• Connector Countries and Pragmatic Coalitions: When superpowers are locked in rivalry, global consensus slows. Middle powers step in to form coalitions. focus on solving specific, practical challenges—like climate adaptation, trade agreements, and artificial intelligence governance—without waiting for universal agreement.

• Exercising Strategic Agency: By maintaining an active, non-aligned posture, smaller and medium-sized countries can build diverse diplomatic and economic partnerships, safeguard their national sovereignty, and help balance global power dynamics, without the need to align themselves exclusively with one major power

“We need to understand that the future of multilateralism cannot be built by the north or the south acting alone. But the only way to confront the challenges we are experiencing is building together this new architecture.” — Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica

Peace, Justice & Development

Choosing SDGs Over Armaments

• The Development Dilemma: Global military expenditure reached $2.9 trillion in 2025, and this rapid militarisation crowds out fiscal space for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognising that security and development are mutually reinforcing, it is essential to protect citizens today without undermining the foundations of their security tomorrow.

• Human Security Focus: True security requires a comprehensive human security framework that guarantees health, education, livelihoods, and climate resilience are foundations of long-term security. Governments need to balance responding to immediate security threats with protecting the investments that make society safer over time.

• Local Empowerment: Weapons cannot protect communities from rising sea levels, severe droughts, or economic collapse, which lead to foreign assistance. Some policies are dictated by the geopolitical interests of major powers rather than the needs of local communities, as essential development aid shrinks or is diverted from basic human necessities.

• Middle Power Role: Problems originating outside a country's borders can inevitably spill over as refugee flows, economic disruption, supply chain shocks, and cross-border criminal networks. This strengthens their role in addressing instability, driven by practical self-preservation rather than geopolitical rivalry.

“Development and security are not competing agendas; they are mutually reinforcing. True security is built when people can live with dignity, exercise their rights, and look to the future with confidence.” — Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

The Foundation of Durable Peace

• Spillover and Profitability of War: domestic repression breeds regional instability, influences neighbouring regimes, and feeds transnational security threats such as organised scam operations and human trafficking. Persisting also due to defence industries and political elites who privatise financial gains while diffusing the social costs onto society

• Enforcement Gap and Double Standards: While institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) come under political pressure, contrasting responses to global conflicts such as the case of Ukraine compared to Gaza erode global trust

• Power Agency and Minilateral Coalitions: non-superpowers and middle powers must exercise collective agency to prevent the international system from degenerating into a "law of the jungle" where power determines rights. It can collectively impose real costs on norm-violators and protect an equitable, rules-based international order

• The 5-Step Peace Framework: Pita outlined a strict 5-step path to legitimate peace: Fact-finding > Amnesty > Compensation > Justice Upheld > Reconciliation. Sustainable peace cannot exist without formal accountability; slower steps should be taken, given the possibility of recurring conflict.

“Peace is not simply the moment when weapons become silent. Peace begins with political courage, makes dialogue possible, and it survives when justice, dignity, and commitments are respected.” — Malik Mahmud Al-Haythar, Wali Nanggroe & Custodian of the State of Aceh

📷 The Big Picture

Southeast Asia stands at a critical juncture in 2026.

While the region continues to lead as one of the world's fastest-growing economic hubs, achieving major strides in basic poverty reduction, health access, and digital connectivity, it faces severe headwinds in climate adaptation, green energy transition, and geopolitical balance.

Regional integration through the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan (ACCSAP 2025–2030) reflects strong policy alignment, but structural implementation gaps remain the primary bottleneck.

Key regional projects driving this progress include:

• ASEAN Power Grid (APG) & LTMS-PIP Pilot: Connects cross-border electricity grids (from Laos and Thailand to Malaysia and Singapore) to share surplus renewable energy—such as hydro and solar power

• Regional Payment Connectivity (RPC): Links real-time QR payment systems across member states, lowering cross-border transaction fees and expanding financial inclusion for millions of unbanked citizens and small businesses.

• ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA): Harmonises digital trade, e-commerce, and data flow rules across the region to streamline supply chains and accelerate equitable economic growth.

• ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF): Provides technical assistance and over $1 billion in loans to help Southeast Asian governments prepare and finance low‑carbon, climate‑resilient infrastructure projects.

🏁 The Bottom Line

From the seventh Global Town Hall, one thing became certain: the current multilateral system built after World War II is straining under the pace of change it was never designed to handle.

AI is rising faster than the governance needed to regulate it, record-high military spending is beating out development budgets, and the UN Security Council remains tied to a few select powerful states.

For Southeast Asia and many of the world’s middle powers, a change is needed to address these issues; instead of waiting for consensus among great powers, middle powers must step up while resisting a global system that pits security against development.

🔍 Need More Angles?

Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia Global Town Hall 2026

(FRD/DHM/DEV/NOV/MHS/ANN/VNS/NIS/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Indonesia is looking to turn sport into a bigger national industry through the Indonesia Sports Summit 2026, held from 11 to 13 September at the Jakarta International Convention Centre (JICC), within the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Jakarta.

Under the theme “Beyond the Game 2.0: From Nation Building to Global Industry,” the second annual summit brought together key players from the sports sector to promote collaboration, innovation, and new opportunities for Indonesia’s sports industry.

More than 20 speakers, along with 80 global and national partners from government, companies, organisations, sports federations, and the private sector, joined the three-day event. They shared ideas, showcased products, and introduced sports activities to visitors.

The summit also aimed to strengthen partnerships across the sports sector, create more jobs in sports tourism ecosystems, and support the growth of a sustainable sports industry. These efforts are also expected to contribute to Indonesia’s economic growth.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

The sports industry and sports tourism are growing globally, with strong economic potential:

• Sports Industry: The global sports industry was worth around USD 521 billion in 2024. About half came from event revenue, which is expected to grow by 8% annually. The growth could reach 25% per year with the use of AI.

• Sports Tourism: The global sports tourism market was valued at USD 609 billion in 2024. It is expected to reach USD 680 billion in 2025, USD 721 billion in 2026, and USD 958 billion by 2031.

⚠️ However…

Indonesia has not yet fully captured the growth of the global sports industry and sports tourism, with the following figures:

• Sports Industry: According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the industry grew from IDR 37.3 trillion in 2023 to IDR 39.4 trillion (~USD 2.56 billion) in 2024. The growth was supported by sports merchandise, events, venues, and travel.

• Sports Tourism: The Ministry of Tourism reported that the sports tourism sector reached around IDR 19 trillion (~USD 1.23 billion) in 2023 and 2024, mainly driven by international sporting events such as MotoGP Mandalika, F1 Powerboat, and marathons.

With a population of around 280 million, Indonesia’s figures are still small compared with the global market. While both sectors tend to grow each year, Indonesia needs to find the main challenges and solutions to unlock their full potential.

💡 The Problem and Solutions

According to the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs, complex regulations are one of the main challenges holding back Indonesia’s sports industry and sports tourism, especially when organising international events.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports alone has 191 regulatory points and around 1,500 articles. Some of these rules involve different ministries and stakeholders and can overlap, making it harder and slower to organise events, attract investment, and support sports development.

“One of the difficulties we often hear from businesses, especially event organisers, is the difficulty of organising events. There are many stakeholders and ministries involved before an event can be held, including sporting events.” — Hendarsam Marantoko, Director General of Immigration, Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs.

To solve the issue, the Ministry of Youth and Sports cut the regulations from 191 to four, covering around 600 articles, effective from April 2026. It also launched sportinindonesia.id, an online platform that makes sports-related services easier to access.

These changes are expected to make sports programmes more efficient, speed up athlete development, attract more investment, and attract more visitors to Indonesia’s sports industry and sports tourism.

“We are trying to build an ecosystem and create one door for all portals, covering investment, events, visas, and other needs. We must believe and agree that sport is not a cost, but an investment. This growth can only happen through cooperation between the government, private sector, and society.” — Erick Thohir, Minister of Youths and Sports.

🌐 About the Website

Minister Erick Thohir launched the website on Friday (9/11) in Jakarta. It offers several features, including:

• Sports History: Facts about Indonesia and the history of sports events held in the country since independence.

• Event Information: Information about past, current, and upcoming sports events and tournaments in Indonesia, from traditional to international events.

• Trip Planning: Information on planning a trip to Indonesia, including international entry points, transport, accommodation, local rules, and travel tips.

• Event Calendar: A list of upcoming sports events, sortable by sport, ticket payment, and date. Users can also connect events to their phones as reminders.

• Event Organiser: Information for promoters planning to host events in Indonesia, including requirements, procedures, venues, capacity, processes, government services, and FAQs.

• Investment Opportunities: Information for government and private investors interested in Indonesia’s sports industry and tourism, especially infrastructure, hospitality, equipment, training, scholarships, and broadcasting.

• Visa Application: Information on applying for Indonesian visas, including visa-free entry, visa on arrival, and sports visas, with details on eligible countries, duration, costs, and requirements.

All these features are connected to relevant ministries, agencies, and ticket sellers, allowing users to complete processes more easily and reducing overlapping procedures between institutions.

📸 The Big Picture

The website is expected to help Indonesia and the government achieve several key targets, including:

• Venue Management: Indonesia has thousands of sports venues across the country, owned by the government and private sector. Some can host international events, while others are no longer used. The government plans to identify, restore, and better manage these venues through cross-sector cooperation.

• Athlete Development: Indonesia has around 125 million people aged 13–30, offering a large pool of potential athletes. The government plans to identify young talent in elementary school and begin training them in junior high school. Starting next year, the government will also provide around 100 scholarships to support their development.

• Event Selection: The ministry will select sports events to be featured on the website based on their consistency, responsibility, long-term commitment, and economic impact on local communities around the venues.

• Event Promotion: Indonesia hosts several international sporting events, including the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The website is expected to help promote these events and attract more audiences and foreign visitors to Indonesia.

In conclusion, the website is expected to help the public, businesses, and investors take a more active role in Indonesia’s sports industry and tourism. It also aims to promote the idea that sports is an investment, sports can generate revenue, and sports is not a cost.

“We register events that have continuity. We do not want to register one-off events, unless they are endorsed by an international sports organisation, such as FIFA ASEAN Cup or a world championship.” — Erick Thohir, Minister of Youths and Sports.

🌏 The FIFA ASEAN Cup

The FIFA ASEAN Cup is a new regional football tournament initiated by FIFA for Southeast Asian national teams, with invited teams from outside the region also able to take part. The tournament is planned to be held every four years.

The tournament will feature 14 teams from 11 ASEAN member states, along with three invited teams from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Pakistan. The teams will be divided into two divisions, with matches hosted across two countries.

“We have Hong Kong who is hosting, and we have Bangladesh and Pakistan, just to give a little bit of spice in the competition, so we bring other countries from Asia, and let them play with each other, and bring a little bit of interesting factor to the competition.” — Lavin Vignesh, FIFA’s Lead Regional Office for East and Southeast Asia.

The championship is also included in FIFA’s international match calendar for the September–October window, meaning that a win, draw, or loss can affect the participants’ points and potentially increase or decrease their global rankings.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Matches

Indonesia will host the Premier Division, featuring eight countries divided into two groups of four. The group matches will run from 25 September to 2 October 2026, followed by the bronze final and final match on 5 October.

Group A includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangladesh, with matches at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Group B features Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines, with matches held at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, West Java.

“We discussed internally, obviously Indonesia has a lot of experience hosting many events, FIFA events, U17, AFC events, AFC Futsal recently, so they have the experience. The population is also here, so we thought that for the first edition, at least, maybe we try it out in Indonesia, and we see where we go after this.” — Lavin Vignesh, FIFA’s Lead Regional Office for East and Southeast Asia.

Hong Kong, China, will host the Challenge Division, featuring six countries divided into two groups of three. The group matches will run from 24 September to 3 October 2026, with the final also taking place on 3 October.

Group A consists of Hong Kong, Laos, and Brunei Darussalam, while Group B features Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste. Both groups will play at Mong Kok Stadium and Kai Tak Stadium, depending on the match schedule.

🏆 The Trophy

The tournament also features two trophies, one for each division.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, unveiled the first trophy with the FIFA Lead Regional Office for East and Southeast Asia, Lavin Vignesh, on Friday (9/11). It will be awarded to the winner of the Premier Division, hosted by Indonesia.

FIFA also unveiled the second trophy, which will be awarded to the Challenge Division winner. It was displayed at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, China, the tournament's other host.

By taking part in the tournament, FIFA aims to improve the performance of Southeast Asian national teams and help more countries in the region qualify for the FIFA World Cup in the future.

“I think what I can comment on is the gap. Last time when Indonesia played Australia, maybe the scoreline was a little bit bigger. But now Indonesia can go and win against Saudi, can go and win against Australia, same with Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia as well. So the gap is slowly closing. And this is the whole idea of having more competition, more competitiveness. So yeah, just a matter of time, one of our countries in the region will qualify for the World Cup, and hopefully the next edition.” — Lavin Vignesh, FIFA’s Lead Regional Office for East and Southeast Asia.

💪 Indonesia’s Readiness

Minister Erick Thohir said FIFA, as the tournament organiser, will prepare the rules, trophies, prize money, venues, training grounds, and accommodation.

As the host country, Indonesia will prepare the facilities, especially the stadiums, as well as transportation for the teams competing in the tournament.

Head coach John Herdman will fully manage the selection of Indonesia’s national team players, team formation, strategy, and training. The players have also shown their commitment to representing the Garuda since their recruitment.

“I am confident that as long as our national team players are not injured, they will be happy to fly the Indonesian flag. From the beginning, when we recruited players from Indonesia or the diaspora, we always asked whether their hearts were with the Red and White. They share the same commitment, and hopefully, with better preparation, our national team can give its best in the FIFA ASEAN Cup.” — Erick Thohir, Minister of Youths and Sports.

➕ In Addition…

Besides the Sport in Indonesia website launch and the FIFA ASEAN Cup trophy unveiling, several other activities were held during the exhibition, including:

• Sports Awards: The Indonesia Sports Award 2026 recognised companies and foundations that actively support Indonesia’s sports industry. Recipients included Djarum Foundation for its badminton scholarships and support for women’s football and Supersoccer Arena; Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur for its 10-year support for Indonesian badminton, football, basketball, and volleyball; and Bank Rakyat Indonesia for six years of support for the Super League.

• MoU Signing: PSSI and AFC Ajax signed a strategic partnership to support local youth football development and create pathways for talented young Indonesian players to potentially join the prestigious Ajax academy.

• Mini Competitions: Visitors could take part in competitions such as 3x3 basketball, taekwondo, and wall climbing.

• Traditional Sports: The exhibition also introduced visitors to Indonesia’s traditional sports, including pencak silat.

• Job Fair: Various state-owned and private companies opened booths offering job opportunities in the sports industry and tourism sectors.

📌 The Bottom Line

The Indonesia Sports Summit 2026 shows that sport is not just about games and competition, but also about building a bigger sports industry. Indonesia wants to use sport to create new opportunities for businesses, athletes, workers, and the tourism sector.

Sport is not only entertainment, but also an investment. Through the Sport in Indonesia website, international sporting events, athlete development, and sports tourism, Indonesia is looking to create more jobs, attract investment, and grow the economy.

The summit is not just a three-day event, but also part of Indonesia’s long-term plan to grow its sports industry. With every stakeholder working together, sport can be not only a source of national pride, but also a source of economic growth.

🔍 Need More Angles?

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(NGO/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

On 14 September 2026, the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS) convened at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta under the theme of the Philippine ASEAN Chairmanship, “Navigating Our Future, Together”.

🤝 Track-Two Synergy: Co-organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) on behalf of the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), the two-day summit brought together over 150 experts, research institutions, and international partners.

💡 Strategic Input: The summit connects independent regional research with formal policymaking as ASEAN advances the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Our Shared Future.

📋 Direct Outcomes: Key insights and trade-off analyses will form a policy memo and serve as input for the ASEAN Summits in November 2026.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

The summit comes at a pivotal junction for regional governance and diplomatic milestones:

🚀 Implementation Phase: Marks a phase as ASEAN advances the four Strategic Plans under the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

🏛️ Historic Milestones: Prepares the groundwork for the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and ASEAN’s upcoming 60th Anniversary in 2027 under Singapore’s chairmanship.

🌐 International Support: Backed by key dialogue partners, including Australia, Germany (via GIZ), Switzerland, and Singapore.

🌍 Key Speech Highlights: Dr Kao Kim Hourn

In his keynote address, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn urged the think tank community to provide “candour with purpose, rigour with practical value, and a strong sense of ASEAN ownership.”

Dr Kao outlined four critical priorities for regional research and policy alignment:

🕊️ Peace and Dialogue: Reaffirming ASEAN Centrality and instruments like the TAC and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) amid rising minilateralism and strategic rivalry.

⚡ Economic Security & Resilience: Linking energy, food security, and connectivity—moving frameworks like the ASEAN Power Grid and Emergency Rice Reserve into concrete, shock-resistant outcomes.

💻 Inclusive Digitalisation: Ensuring technological transformations—driven by the upcoming ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA)—equitably support MSMEs and workforce convergence.

🛡️ Converging Transnational Security: Intersecting maritime tensions, cybercrime, climate risks, and online scams into integrated, cross-sectoral policy responses.

📖 Core Discussion Pillars & Workstreams

Over two days, the summit evaluated regional pressures through three plenary sessions and dedicated technical workstreams to formulate actionable policy options.

• The first plenary session focused on peace and dialogue, examining the evolving role of regional organisations and middle powers while reinforcing ASEAN Centrality.

• The second plenary commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), assessing its continued relevance within an increasingly fragmented regional architecture.

• A third plenary addressed complex transnational security threats, highlighting the intersection of cyber risks, climate pressures, and cross-border security challenges alongside Indo-Pacific partners.

Complementing these plenary debates, targeted workstreams tackled specific regional vulnerabilities: balancing economic efficiency with supply chain redundancy and energy resilience, safeguarding agricultural resilience against severe climate disruptions, and accelerating AI skilling, governance, and technology adoption for Southeast Asian small businesses.

⚠️ Why This Matters Beyond the Summit Room

• 🔗 Regional challenges rarely remain regional

Transnational crime, cyber threats, climate risks, energy disruptions and economic shocks are increasingly cross borders and interact with one another. Regional coordination is no longer just about responding to a single issue, but also about linking various policies before a single disruption causes widespread impact across the region.

• ⚖️ Resilience also means keeping policy choices open

The ATTS, which focuses on energy, food, connectivity and economic security, raises the question: ‘How can ASEAN strengthen its resilience without losing flexibility?’. Strengthening regional cooperation, diversifying supply chains and building up reserves can help ASEAN countries weather shocks whilst retaining the flexibility to respond to future uncertainties.

• 🤖 Digital growth comes with a distribution question

AI and digitalisation undoubtedly open up new opportunities for businesses in Southeast Asia, but their benefits also depend heavily on access to skills, infrastructure and technology. Consequently, discussions on AI skilling and MSMEs are not only about technology adoption, but also about ensuring more economic actors can adapt to and participate in digital transformation.

• 🧩 ASEAN Centrality is also about problem-solving

Discussions regarding the TAC, ASEAN Centrality and transnational security are not merely about maintaining ASEAN’s position within the regional architecture. Rather, they concern how ASEAN can remain a relevant platform as regional challenges increasingly involve actors, risks, and interests that extend beyond ASEAN’s borders.

Core takeaway: The ATTS's relevance lies in how these issues are interconnected. Rather than viewing security, economic resilience and technological change as standalone agendas, this summit seeks to consider how ASEAN can maintain space for collective action amidst increasingly complex and interrelated pressures.

🚀 Moving Forward: From Ideas to Policy

The ASEAN Think Tanks Summit does not merely bring together perspectives from think tanks, researchers, and international partners; it incorporates these perspectives into recommendations that will form a policy memo, which will serve as input for the ASEAN Summits in November 2026.

At the same time, ASEAN-ISIS and SIIA will also develop a roadmap to guide future ATTS workstreams.

The pathway is: Think tanks & experts → Track-Two dialogue → policy recommendations → policy memo → ASEAN Summits.

📌 The Bottom Line

Geopolitical shifts, transnational security, economic resilience, energy, agriculture, and AI on the summit agenda show that ASEAN’s challenges are increasingly interconnected and require multi-actor responses.

The value of these discussions will ultimately depend on what happens beyond the summit, namely whether the ideas raised can be further developed through ASEAN’s ongoing policy discussions and future ATTS workstreams.

🔍 Need More Angle?

ASEAN 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS) Advances Ideas for ASEAN’s Future

ASEAN Secretary-General of ASEAN officiates third iteration of ASEAN Think Tanks Summit

(JUN/DHM/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

On Thursday (10/09), the French Embassy and Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI) hosted two press conferences at the French Ambassador’s Residence in Jakarta to unveil major initiatives aimed at deepening cultural and diplomatic ties:

• Rimbaud Residency: The first press conference highlighted the inaugural bilateral and reciprocal literary residency between France and Indonesia, anchored in Semarang. The session featured H.E. Fabien Penone (French Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN), Dr. Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti (Mayor of Semarang), and Louis-Philippe Dalembert (the first Rimbaud Residency writer) as keynote speakers.

• Creative ASEAN: A regional cooperation framework spanning all 11 ASEAN Member States to empower the creative industries and contemporary arts.

Both programmes underscore a shared commitment between France and Southeast Asia to transform historical heritage and artistic synergy into inclusive, long-term creative economy growth.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

These launches follow up on and operationalise key high-level diplomatic agreements:

• 46th ASEAN Summit (26 May 2025): Adoption of the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework.

• Borobudur Declaration (29 May 2025): Signed by President Emmanuel Macron and President Prabowo Subianto to outline a joint cultural strategy between France and Indonesia.

• 150th Anniversary of Rimbaud’s Passage (July & August 2026): Commemorating French poet Arthur Rimbaud’s 1876 journey through Java, which began in Semarang.

🌍 The Bigger Picture: France & ASEAN

These cultural milestones are part of a rapidly expanding, multi-pillar relationship.

France has historic political, economic, and cultural ties with Southeast Asia, marked by a sustained schedule of high-level meetings—including President Macron’s May 2025 tour of Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, and his July 2025 meeting in Paris with the Malaysian Prime Minister (then ASEAN Chair).

Key pillars of this broader partnership include:

• Diplomatic Pioneer: France was the first European country to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2007, and the first to adopt an Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018.

• Development & Funding: A formal Development Partnership established in 2020 is guided by a 2022–2026 joint action plan. The French Development Agency (AFD) supports this through a newly created €2 million France-ASEAN Fund (2024).

• Green & Blue Investments: Since 2023, France has implemented over €15 million in regional projects covering air quality, maritime waste, the blue economy, and energy efficiency (including support for the ASEAN Power Grid to boost renewable energy).

• Defence & Security: France serves as an observer in the ASEAN Plus Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM+) working groups (2024–2027) for maritime security and disaster relief, and has been an ASEANAPOL observer since 2019, cooperating to combat transnational crime, cybercrime, and drug trafficking.

📖 Rimbaud Residency: From History to Contemporary Creation

Named after Arthur Rimbaud, the programme is designed as a reciprocal three-month literary residency:

• Inaugural French Resident in Indonesia (Sept–Nov 2026): Louis-Philippe Dalembert, an award-winning Haitian-born French novelist and poet (Prix Orange du Livre 2017, Choix Goncourt winner), will reside in Semarang. He will work from Lawang Sewu while hosting workshops and engaging with local writers, UNNES researchers, and readers.

• Indonesian Resident in France (Early 2027): A selected Indonesian writer will undertake a three-month residency at the Cité internationale de la langue française (Château de Villers-Cotterêts).

“The Rimbaud Residency invites a new generation of writers to undertake a different kind of journey—not in search of escape, but of encounter, dialogue and creation.” — Press Release IFI

🌏 Creative ASEAN: A Regional Umbrella

The day's second press conference shifted the spotlight to regional collaboration, officially launching the Creative ASEAN initiative.

Held at the Residence of France in Jakarta, the event outlined a bold new strategy to strengthen collaboration in the arts, culture, and creative industries across France and all 11 ASEAN Member States.

While France already supports diverse cultural programmes through its network of Embassies, Instituts français, and Alliances françaises across Southeast Asia, Creative ASEAN will consolidate these bilateral initiatives under a single, unified regional framework. Supported by the ASEAN-France Fund, the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Culture and Arts (SOMCA) will implement this initiative.

During the launch, key diplomatic leaders emphasised the strategic importance of this cross-border partnership:

“Creative industries affirm our identities and breathe new life into our societies. Creative ASEAN brings together the strengths of ASEAN and France: France’s deep intellectual, historical, and artisanal capital and enduring capacity for creativity and innovation, alongside Southeast Asia’s rich histories, distinct yet shared traditions, and growing prosperity. Together, these strengths can drive creative industries that celebrate identity while opening new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and growth.” — Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN.

🗝️ Key Features of Creative ASEAN:

• At Least 11 Flagship Projects: Every ASEAN Member State will host at least one flagship initiative under the Creative ASEAN label, ranging from research-based or creation-oriented artistic residencies to professional capacity-building workshops.

• Priority Sectors: Film and audiovisual production, design and fashion, performing arts and music, gaming and animation, immersive technology, literature, creative entrepreneurship, and cultural policy.

• Direct Reach: Across its project cycle, the programme will directly benefit 15–20 participants in artistic residencies and 25–40 participants in professional exchanges and workshops.

• Connecting Ecosystems: The initiative encourages itinerant or multi-location residencies, allowing an artist to begin research in one ASEAN Member State, continue in another, and present the final work in France.

• Regional Digital Platform: To ensure long-term sustainability, an online platform will feature an interactive regional map, directories of cultural organisations, open calls, case studies, and professional networking tools.

🚀 Moving Forward…

Both initiatives serve as building blocks for long-term cultural exchange. Before June 2027, the Embassy of France – IFI plans to expand literary and translation residencies across other regions of Indonesia.

📌 The Bottom Line

Culture has taken centre stage in France’s diplomatic engagement with Indonesia and ASEAN.

From honouring Arthur Rimbaud’s legacy in Central Java to expanding creative opportunities across 11 Southeast Asian nations, these initiatives, backed by robust economic and security partnerships, pave the way for artist mobility, creative innovation, and enduring people-to-people connections.

🔎 Need More Angles?

Embassy of France to ASEAN France and ASEAN

(JUN/VNS/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Held from 31 August to 3 September 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), it's where buyers, distributors, retailers, and other food-industry professionals can source products, build connections, and explore commercial opportunities.

With more than 900 exhibitors and thousands of food, beverage, hospitality, and retail professionals, it serves as a showcase and an opportunity for Indonesian products to enter, remain, and expand in the international market.

It demonstrates how food and its ingredients can function simultaneously as a commercial product, an export commodity, and part of Indonesia's representation abroad.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

Food ingredients have become one of the global trade commodities of Southeast Asia, not only as a source of raw agricultural commodities, but also as a producer of various processed foods, speciality ingredients, snacks, spices, seafood, and beverages

Trade fairs like Fine Food Australia function not only as a Business-to-Business (B2B) platform but also as connective tissue of the global food industry, combining trade promotion with bilateral cooperation.

This also helps Indonesian businesses learn how the Australian market works, identify potential partners, receive feedback, and build trust.

🇦🇺 The Fine Food Australia

Indonesia and Australia have developed an economic relationship over decades, and cooperation has continued to expand through mechanisms such as the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

Australia describes Indonesia as one of its most important bilateral relationships. In 2024 to 2025, the two-way trade reached AUD 34.83 billion, making Indonesia its ninth-largest trading partner by value.

Fine Food Australia is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier trade exhibitions, combining trade promotion with bilateral cooperation.

🇮🇩 Indonesia Goes to Fine Food Australia 2026

Inside the Indonesian Pavilion

Presented through the Indonesia Consulate General in Melbourne, featuring three Indonesian companies: Jungle Gold Bali, Rendah Vanilla, and Noribet.

The three companies presented different sides of Indonesia’s food economy: a growing chocolate- and cocoa-based product sector, speciality agricultural products with premium market potential, and marine resources that can be developed into food products.

Over the four days, the three companies logged a combined AUD 403.752 in potential transactions

Indonesia Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) Sydney & Independent Exhibitors.

The Indonesian Pavilion was only one part of Indonesia’s presence at Fine Food Australia; this is shown by running alongside it, ITPC Sydney brought its own 10 Indonesian companies as delegations:

• PT Mayora Indah Tbk.

• CV Mimpi Masa Kecil Nak Indonesia.

• Azaki Food Internasional.

• PT Dua Kelinci.

• PT Serena Indopangan Industri.

• PT Era Bersama Indonesia.

• PT Labuna Jaring Nusantara.

• PT Loka Boga Industri.

• PT Cahaya Desa Ekspor Indonesia.

• CV Aroma Sukses.

And 3 other Indonesian companies participated independently:

• PT HLJ Indonesia.

• PT Natural Indococonut.

• Blue Maritime Holding.

The participation expanded Indonesia’s representation at the exhibition and allowed these companies to connect with potential buyers and business partners from Australia and international markets.

It also shows another route into international trade: Indonesian companies do not have to rely solely on a government-organised pavilion and can increasingly represent themselves directly at international industry events.

🌐 The International Market

Getting a product into an international market isn’t as simple as placing it on a foreign shelf or having a great product.

Companies entering foreign markets must consider several things: local and import requirements, packaging communication, supply chains, distributors and retailers, product format and flavour appeal to the buyers, and maintaining consistent quality at a larger scale.

This means companies need not only to research information but also to have direct contact with prospective stakeholders.

Trade exhibitions can help compress some of these processes by bringing multiple parts of the industry into the same physical space.

🏡 Beyond Transaction

Food is one of the most accessible ways for a country to introduce itself to foreign audiences. It doesn't require specialised political knowledge; it speaks for itself through flavour, ingredients, approaches, traditions, and philosophies.

Indonesia’s presence at Fine Food Australia is also an example of soft power and gastrodiplomacy. However, it is important not to reduce the entire exhibition to gastrodiplomacy.

Every buyer who samples Rendah Vanilla or takes home a sample of Jungle Gold's chocolate isn't just evaluating a product; they're forming an impression of Indonesia itself: its quality standards, its creativity, its place in the global food conversation. Building brand equity and familiarity that extends beyond commercial numbers.

🏁 The Bottom Line

Fine Food Australia gave Indonesian businesses access to an international B2B network, while the wider Indonesia–Australia economic relationship provided the framework for deeper commercial cooperation.

Building the business relationships, market access, and familiarity that allow Indonesian products with elements of Indonesian identity to travel further into the global market.

🔍 Need More Angles?

• Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Indonesia country brief

(DEV/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The Swedish Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée, also a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, made a five-day state visit to Indonesia and travelled to Jakarta and West Nusa Tenggara from 4 to 8 September.

During the visit, the Princess checked the progress of the UNDP’s partnership with Indonesia, focusing on sustainable development, climate action, biodiversity conservation, and digital transformation to support inclusive economic growth in the country.

She also wanted to learn about Indonesia’s Biomedical and Genome Science Initiative, which aims to respond to and prevent disease outbreaks, and how Indonesia maintains unity and harmony despite its religious and ethnic diversity.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which took effect on January 1, 2016.

The agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global plan to protect the planet and improve people’s lives by 2030. It calls on developed and developing countries to work together through stronger international partnerships.

The goals have 169 targets, covering key issues such as ending poverty, improving healthcare and education, reducing inequality, fighting climate change, protecting forests and oceans, and supporting sustainable economic growth.

⚠️ Why It Matters?

Indonesia officially joined the United Nations as its 60th member on 28 September 1950. However, it temporarily withdrew from the UN on 20 January 1965 because of a conflict with Malaysia, then resumed its membership on 28 September 1966.

Four years later, Indonesia partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the government in implementing development programmes. UNDP also opened an office in Jakarta to support the partnership.

As a UN member, Indonesia is expected to actively participate in and support UN programmes and initiatives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by adopting policies that align with these goals.

The Indonesian government then announced its commitment to support the UN SDGs agenda by signing a Presidential Regulation in 2017 to integrate the SDGs into the country’s medium- and long-term development plans through 2045.

Several Indonesian SDG initiatives related to the Swedish Crown Princess’s visit are focused on health, peace, education, and climate action.

“The partnership between Indonesia and UNDP has supported Indonesia’s development priorities for decades, bringing together knowledge, innovation, and resources to address challenges and create opportunities for communities. Looking ahead, Indonesia will continue to work with UNDP to develop scalable solutions and mobilise the resources, partnerships, and knowledge needed for sustainable and inclusive development.” - Rachmat Pambudy, National Development Planning Minister.

🧬The Eijkman Biomedical and Genome Science Initiatives

Princess Victoria, visited the Eijkman Biomedical and Genome Science Initiatives at Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta, on Friday (9/3), to learn about Indonesia’s preparations in the health sector.

The Ministry of Health established the facility in August 2022 to improve healthcare and prepare for future health threats through genome sequencing.

Genome sequencing is a scientific method that studies an organism’s genetic information by analysing DNA samples, including samples from humans, bacteria, and viruses. It helps scientists better understand diseases, how they develop, and how they affect the body.

This method helps doctors understand patients’ health and detect diseases early. It also helps health authorities prepare for disease outbreaks and provide more precise treatment and preventive care.

This method is being used to study seven priority diseases and health condiple artions: cancer (breast, lung, colorectal, and cervical), tuberculosis, stroke, diabetes, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and ageing, which is linked to longevity.

“She was interested because she did not know Indonesia had already started this kind of initiative, similar to efforts in Europe, the US, and the UK, where wealthy peoe looking for ways to live longer, even up to 120 or 130 years. This has led to the study of longevity science, which focuses on keeping the body and its organs healthy for longer.” - Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Health Minister.

Indonesia is currently developing 10 specialised genomics centres and 29 national surveillance laboratories, with a target of completing 400,000 genome sequences by 2030 under the National Genome Strategy 2026–2030.

The UN, through UNDP, supports the initiative by helping develop policies, improve health facilities, and train health workers. It also helps use genome information to detect diseases, identify health threats, respond faster, and provide better treatment.

🤝 The Istiqlal-Cathedral Tunnel of Friendship

The Princess continued her agenda by going to Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral on the same day to learn more about how Indonesia maintains unity in diversity, especially the harmony between the country’s two largest religious communities, Muslims and Christians.

By 2025, Islam is the largest religion in Indonesia, with around 240 million followers, or 87% of the population. Indonesia also has the world’s largest Muslim population. Christianity is the second-largest religion, with around 29 million followers, or 10% of the population, including Protestants and Catholics.

Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the eighth largest in the world. It can accommodate around 200,000 worshippers. Meanwhile, Jakarta Cathedral is one of Indonesia’s oldest and largest churches, and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers. It is located directly across from the Istiqlal Mosque.

The two places of worship are connected by a Tunnel of Friendship, showing Indonesia’s unity in diversity. Indonesia has six main religions, but people from different backgrounds and traditions live side by side and support each other.

The Princess was impressed by the religious harmony and wanted to learn more about how the government manages diversity, while also maintaining peace and mutual respect among religious communities.

“She was very impressed because she was warmly welcomed by many worshippers when she arrived at Istiqlal Mosque. She then heard the sound of the bedug drum from the mosque, followed by the sound of church bells. The two sounds rang out together, creating a unique and powerful symbol of religious tolerance.” - Nasaruddin Umar, Religious Affairs Minister/ Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque.

🚨 The Lombok Earthquake

Princess Victoria continued her visit by travelling to Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, for two days, from 5 to 6 September, to see how the island has recovered eight years after the devastating earthquakes.

Lombok experienced several earthquakes with magnitudes of around 6 to 7 between late July and mid-August 2018. The earthquakes were also felt on nearby islands, including Bali and Sumbawa.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the disaster caused 550+ deaths, injured 1,500+, and displaced 445,000+, mostly in North Lombok Regency.

The earthquakes also destroyed 165,000+ houses, 1,100+ education facilities, 1,000+ places of worship, and 300+ health facilities. The disaster caused around IDR 10.1 trillion in damage and IDR 2 trillion in losses, while IDR 8.6 trillion was needed for reconstruction.

In response, UNDP helped rebuild earthquake-affected areas in West Nusa Tenggara through the PETRA programme, with support from the German Development Bank (KfW). The programme ran from 2019 to 2021.

It aimed to rebuild key infrastructure and help communities recover by accelerating the restoration of health and education services, creating jobs, and preparing communities for future disasters.

The project was completed and handed over to the government. By June 2022, PETRA had rebuilt 22 infrastructure projects, including schools, health facilities, and other public facilities, serving more than 150,000 people, worth around IDR 79 billion.

PETRA also rebuilt water and irrigation systems, including clean water facilities for 600 families in North Lombok, and irrigation canals for 500 families in East Lombok.

📈 The Current Development

Princess Victoria’s first stop was the BALE KITA Regional Technical Implementation Unit, on the western side of the Islamic Centre in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, where she met local entrepreneurs to learn about their challenges and recovery after the disaster.

The facility supports creative industries and community-based MSMEs. It promotes, trains, and mentors local communities to turn local food ingredients and materials into value-added products, such as traditional snacks and crafts.

The programme has successfully created jobs and business opportunities, improved skills and product competitiveness, and strengthened local economies, especially for communities whose livelihoods depend on nature and tourism.

She also visited State Vocational School 1 Pemenang in North Lombok, which was rebuilt to withstand earthquakes. Teachers and students were trained to prepare for future disasters, as Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Another stop was the Pemenang Public Health Facility, which uses digital technology to improve its services through the Electronic Immunisation and Logistics Monitoring System.

The system combines vaccine and logistics data, helping health facilities manage vaccine stocks and provide more reliable healthcare services.

🐠 The Coral Reef Initiative

The Crown Princess and the delegation continued their visit to Gili Meno, West Nusa Tenggara, to learn about blue economy solutions that link marine conservation, local livelihoods, and innovative financing.

Indonesia is home to around 16% of the world’s coral reefs, which support fishing, tourism, food security, and coastal protection. Coral reef tourism around Gili Meno, Gili Trawangan, and Gili Air generates nearly IDR 9.5 trillion in annual revenue.

However, coral reef ecosystems are under threat, especially from coral bleaching, as sea temperatures rise by more than 1°C above pre-industrial levels due to climate change.

To address this problem, Bappenas and UNDP introduced a parametric insurance initiative to provide financial support for coastal communities when sea temperatures rise to levels that could damage coral reefs.

Gili Meno is one of the first locations in Indonesia to take part in the initiative, and the financing helps coastal communities recover quickly and restore the coral reef ecosystem while reducing the impact on tourism and local businesses.

The restoration activities go beyond coral reefs. They also cultivate sea turtles to increase their population and cultivate seaweed to create new economic opportunities and alternative income for coastal communities, while supporting the marine environment.

“I’m very happy because there are so many good initiatives to preserve and conserve nature. I also hear about their commitment, engagement, and how they see the natural resource as a very exquisite resource, and how we all have to take care of it, and the wonderful ideas they have as a community. I do hope that they will be able to conserve as much as possible, while of course, developing their country in a sustainable way, and be a role model to many other places.” - Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador.

🌳 The Bayan Customary Forest

The Crown Princess’s last stop was Bayan District in North Lombok, where she learned how the indigenous community uses the awig-awig customary law to protect the forest and preserve traditions passed down through generations.

The awig-awig rules prohibit certain activities in the customary forest, including cutting or burning trees, herding or capturing animals in and around the forest, and polluting or poisoning springs and rivers inside and outside the forest.

Those who violate the awig-awig, either individually or as a group, can be fined by the customary forest management. The fines may include a buffalo, 1 quintal of rice, 40 pieces of fruit, palm sugar, firewood, and traditional currency.

Those who refuse to pay the fines may lose access to certain customary facilities, including traditional ceremonies, and may no longer be recognised as members of the indigenous community.

These customary rules help prevent damage to the forest’s flora and fauna and ensure it remains an important part of life for future generations of the indigenous community.

To support the awig-awig, UNDP, together with Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, provides technical assistance through the UN-REDD Programme to verify customary forest rights and support community-based forest management.

It is expected to identify land and forest ownership, stop deforestation, reduce carbon emissions, and minimise climate change impacts.

🏡 Why This Hits Home?

Indonesia has several major development targets that require support from the SDGs:

• Ambitious Growth: Indonesia aims to achieve 8% annual GDP growth by 2029, and become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045. This requires efforts to reduce poverty and improve people’s welfare.

• Unity in Diversity: Indonesia is home to around 280 million people, more than 1,300 ethnic groups, and six recognised religions. Maintaining equality and inclusion is important to preserve peace and harmony.

• Net Zero Emissions: Indonesia aims to reach net zero emissions by 2060 or earlier. The country is accelerating the transition to renewable energy and diversifying its energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and help limit global warming.

• Amazing Biodiversity: Indonesia is home to around 10% of the world’s flowering plants, 12% of mammals, 16% of reptiles and amphibians, 17% of birds, and 25% of fish species. Protecting and restoring these ecosystems is important to prevent species from becoming extinct.

• Digital Transformation: Indonesia launched its Indonesia Digital Vision 2045 in December 2023 to accelerate digital transformation across sectors, improve productivity and competitiveness, and drive innovation.

📌 The Bottom Line

Development is not only about improving people’s lives, but it is also about protecting the nature they depend on. Crown Princess Victoria’s visits to Jakarta and Lombok showed how Indonesia can build stronger communities while protecting the environment.

Recovery is not only about rebuilding what was lost, but it is also about preparing for what may come next. Rebuilding safe schools and other facilities can restore essential services, while helping communities become more resilient to future disasters.

Progress is not only about finding solutions, it is also about working together to make them last. The visit highlighted the long-term partnership between Indonesia, Sweden, and UNDP to support inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development.

🔍 Need More Angles?

Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana, Dampak Gempa Lombok: 460 Orang Meninggal Dunia dan Kerugian Ekonomi 7,45 Triliun Rupiah

Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional, Dalam SDGs Lecture 2025, Bappenas Tegaskan Komitmen Percepat Capaian TPB/SDGs Indonesia

Goodstats, Sebaran Agama di Indonesia 2025

Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral, Menuju NZE 2060, Pemerintah Perkuat Fondasi Energi Rendah Karbon Berkelanjutan

Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital RI, Siaran Pers No. 567/HM/KOMINFO/12/2023 tentang Perkuat Kolaborasi Lintas Sektor, Kominfo Luncurkan Visi Indonesia Digital 2045

Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup, Keanekaragaman Hayati Indonesia

Lembaran Bayan, Buku Profil Desa Bayan

Pemerintah Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat, UNDP dan BNPB Serah Terima 22 Fasilitas Kepada Pemda NTB

Tempo, Ini Data Lengkap Kerusakan Gempa Lombok Versi BNPB

UNDP, Nature, Community, Sustainability, HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden on Local Conservation Efforts

UNDP, Programme for Earthquake and Tsunami Infrastructure Reconstruction Assistance

UNDP, Sustainable Development Goals, Background on the goals

(NGO/QOB)

🎯 Main Takeaway

A study titled “Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce - Asia Pacific Youth Insights” was published by JA Institute, celebrating the 20th FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge (ITC). 

Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) is a multinational holding company, and Junior Achievement (JA) is a coordinating body of the Junior Achievement Network from the United States.

The study reveals how the next-generation workforce across the Asia Pacific views their readiness for the future, with over 4200 participants.

From Southeast Asia, participants include Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Among the results, Indonesia stands as an outlier. Of the 552 participants, 99% agree that their education should provide more knowledge regarding work life.

The results give us insight into what the regional education field should move toward to support the next generation of the workforce.

📡 Why it’s on our radar

The aim of this study is to produce data regarding the youth’s readiness in four different sections, which are:

• Practical skills and education: examines the skills young people across ten Asia Pacific countries and territories see as most critical for the future.

• Entrepreneurial readiness: examines how important young people think entrepreneurship skills are for the future.

• Global trade readiness: examines how much young people think it's important and how well they understand how business works across economies.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness: examines young people's readiness for the fastest-growing skill requirement going into 2030 and beyond.

These 4 areas capture many important qualities needed for the workforce Southeast Asia requires as the world becomes more complex and challenges arise.

Practical skills cover how prepared these participants are fundamentally, entrepreneurial covers how ready they are to create innovation, global trade allows us to see how prepared they are to adapt to the current existing system in the world, and AI readiness covers their readiness to face one of the biggest growing challenges and innovations the world is facing today.

⚠️ Why it’s important

Studies like these help those between education and job opportunity better understand the next generation.

• Educators: can better understand what the next generation deems most important for their careers and what blind spots may arise from their focus.

• Employers: can understand where the next generation is learning their skills before entering job positions.

• Policymakers: the study results can help policymakers deal with the harder structural task of improving education nationwide.

• Young people: if institutions and parties take the results seriously, they can target more young people who could see better education and opportunities in the future.

Moreover, the findings also reveal that the next generation is learning to be ready for the future not just in schools or through primary education. Rather, learning comes from a variety of places that are currently still not yet sufficiently connected, coherent, or equally accessible.

At the same time, the data shows schools haven't failed, because many still think education's important. Rather, the ecosystem where young people learn needs improvement.

📝 What the study says

The overall result of the study reveals that over 4200 Asia Pacific youths view that:

• Adaptability and problem-solving skills rank highest, at 53% and 52%, respectively. Communication follows in third place (45%).

• 97% of youths want more real-world work exposure, and 52% say the curriculum needs stronger problem-solving and creative thinking.

• 85% agree that entrepreneurial thinking enhances employability. However, only 48% are confident across all four core autonomous behaviours combined.

• 90% agree that understanding how business works across the economy will be relevant to their future career. However, when asked about three trade mechanisms, less than 40% claim to understand them well.

• 84% say they will need to work alongside AI, not just use it, in the future, and 82% agree AI will change the jobs available in their generation. However, only 56% are confident to use AI professionally.

Another important piece of information the study reveals is where these youth learn their skills to gain the confidence in how prepared they are for the future:

• Across all eight skills examined (adaptability, problem solving, communication, technology, creativity, financial, leadership, and international business trade) school was rarely viewed as the primary source of learning rather it was places such as personal projects, clubs/competitions, and social media.

• School clubs & extracurriculars are where youths have had the most opportunity to develop initiative, problem-solving, and independent thinking.

• Only 62% say their current education is preparing them well enough to use AI in a real working environment, with 41% saying they learn most by teaching themselves and 35% from social media content.

  ---

🌏 Regional stakes

Unfortunately, the study does not present a country-by-country breakdown for each section. However, some country-specific data are given:

🇮🇩 Indonesia:

• 99% of participants say their education should provide more knowledge about life at work.

• Problem-solving is named the most important skill.

• 95% believe that thinking like an entrepreneur helps succeed in any job.

• 81% believe education is important for a career, 65% for trade, and 70% for AI readiness.

🇲🇾 Malaysia:

• 95% believe that thinking like an entrepreneur helps you succeed in any job.

• Digital and technological skills are viewed as most important.

• 67% believe education is important for a career, 54% for trade knowledge, and 57% for AI readiness.

🇸🇬 Singapore:

• 90% believe that thinking like an entrepreneur helps you succeed in any job.

• Problem-solving skills are viewed as most important.

• 62% believe education is important for a career, 50% for trade, and 52% for AI readiness.

🇹🇭 Thailand:

• 89% believe that thinking like an entrepreneur helps you succeed in any job.

• Adaptability is viewed as the most important skill.

• 70% believe education is important for a career, 56% for trade knowledge, and 67% for AI readiness.

🇵🇭 The Philippines:

• 94% believe that thinking like an entrepreneur helps you succeed in any job.

• Adaptability is viewed as the most important skill.

• 94% believe education is important for a career, 94% for trade knowledge, and 95% for AI readiness.

🇻🇳 Vietnam:

• 68% believe that thinking like an entrepreneur helps you succeed in any job.

• Adaptability is viewed as the most important skill.

• 63% believe education is important for a career, 56% for trade knowledge, and 58% for AI readiness.

🏁 Bottom line

The results show that youths across the Asia Pacific understand what matters for their future. However, a large portion of the study reveals that they are not confident in actually doing it.

This does not mean youth or learning institutions have failed, but rather that the ecosystem where youth learn isn't connected yet.

Understanding what matters for the future shows that the next generation of youth can handle it; with the right support, Southeast Asia's future workforce looks bright.

Need More Angles?

JA Asia Pacific: Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce: Asia Pacific Youth Insights

#ASEANWorkforce #FutureOfWork #AIReadiness #EdTechSEA #SoutheastAsia #FedExJAITC

(FRD/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

In the last few months of 2026, the world confronts two interconnected crises that together paint a disturbing picture of how natural climate phenomena, amplified by human-induced warming, are unleashing unprecedented risks.

On one front, the Himalayan region has just witnessed one of its deadliest natural disasters on record: catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border that has now claimed 1,342 lives, with 4,886 people still missing as of 5 September 2026.

On the other, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a stark warning: the current El Niño event is intensifying into a “very strong” phenomenon and is expected to persist until February 2027 with “near 100%” probability.

The United Nations has now officially acknowledged what scientists have long warned: the world will inevitably exceed the 1.5°C warming limit.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres put it: “Humanity is speeding past the limit to avoid climate catastrophe.”

The UN Environment Programme’s landmark “Overshoot Report,” released on 2 September, stated unequivocally that “the challenge has shifted from avoiding overshoot to navigating it.”

For Southeast Asia, this is not an abstract warning. The region is already experiencing the compounding effects of a climate crisis that moves faster than the systems meant to manage it. From the deadly Sumatra floods to a choking haze emergency across the archipelago, the season of cascading disasters is already here, and the region is not ready.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

The Himalayan Catastrophe: A Warning from the Roof of the World

On 26 August 2026, a catastrophic flood triggered by a rock-ice avalanche swept through northern Nepal, bordering Tibet. By 5 September, the death toll had climbed to 1,342, with 4,886 people still reported missing.

Bodies were recovered across eight districts: 360 in Chitwan, 230 in Nawalparasi West, 222 in Nawalparasi East, 192 in Nuwakot, 160 in Rasuwa, 73 in Gorkha, 67 in Dhading, and 38 in Tanahun.

The floodwaters surged southwards along the Bhotekoshi River, destroying houses, vehicles, roads, and bridges, and damaging several hydropower projects. 1,030 bodies have been buried so far after DNA samples were collected.

Authorities have collected 2,272 DNA samples to help identify the dead, including 1,260 from bodies and 1,012 from relatives. 7,912 officers have been deployed for search and rescue operations, while about 3,240 people are being housed at holding centres in several districts.

What puzzled scientists most was the sheer volume of water. The flood carried several times as much water as the 2023 South Lhonak glacial lake outburst flood in Sikkim.

Yet satellite imagery did not reveal any large glacial lake in the vicinity. Researchers are still trying to understand where all the water came from and why the flood reached such terrifying speed.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated unequivocally on 1 September: “There is no doubt that climate change caused this disaster, because it has been confirmed that temperatures in the Himalayan region have risen by 1.8 degrees.”

The disaster has been described as a “Himalayan climate security warning.” Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal pointed out that Nepal contributes “almost negligible” greenhouse gas emissions, yet bears “disproportionate” consequences of global warming.

🌊 El Niño: A Climate Phenomenon Turning “Giant”

The WMO states that the probability of El Niño lasting until February 2027 is “near 100%.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned: “El Niño is turning into a giant before our eyes. Science is no longer in doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are warming.”

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo added that this “exceptional El Niño” could “deal a massive blow to communities and economies worldwide.”

El Niño’s effects reach far beyond the Pacific. It can reshape weather and climate patterns thousands of kilometres away.

The WMO projects that for the period September–November 2026, “nearly all land areas of the globe” will face an increased likelihood of above-normal temperatures.

The WMO notes that El Niño tends to peak at the end of the year, but the ocean releases heat into the atmosphere slowly, thereby pushing up global temperatures in the following year.

The hottest year on record was 2024, which followed the previous El Niño. This suggests that 2027 could bring another round of record-breaking heat.

⚠️ The Southeast Asian Cascade: A Region Under Siege

While the Himalayan tragedy captured global attention, Southeast Asia is simultaneously being battered by a cascade of climate-related disasters that test the limits of national and regional response systems.

🇮🇩 Indonesia: A Cascade of Crises

Indonesia is confronting a dual climate emergency that has already claimed hundreds of lives and sickened millions.

In late 2025, flash floods and landslides across Sumatra killed hundreds of people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The November 2025 floods were not merely a meteorological event; they were an ecological one, amplified by deforestation, mining expansion, and poor land-use planning.

Indonesia is also burning again. As of 27 August 2026, the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre has activated its highest transboundary haze alert (Level 3), with widespread smoke from Kalimantan and Sumatra drifting across the region.

3.4 million people are at risk of acute respiratory infections, with 9,313 ISPA cases recorded in Palembang alone in August.

The government’s response remains focused on reactive firefighting and cloud-seeding. But the structural drivers of the crisis- weak enforcement, corporate impunity, and cheap land-clearing- remain largely untouched.

The fundamental question is: why was the country so unprepared for disasters that experts had long warned were coming?

🇵🇭 Philippines: Monsoon Deluge and Infrastructure Failure

Heavy rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat) has triggered severe flooding across Luzon.

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was inundated, causing a traffic nightmare that stranded thousands.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has blamed garbage and heavy rain for the catastrophic flooding, but critics point to longstanding failures in flood control infrastructure and waste management.

Local governments in Benguet have ordered preemptive evacuations in high-risk areas as heavy rains saturate the soil and heighten the threat of landslides.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Storms, Floods, and Landslides

Vietnam is bracing for up to three storms or tropical depressions in the East Sea this month.

Storm Saudel (Storm No. 5) has already made landfall, bringing heavy rain and raising the risk of flash flooding and landslides.

In Gia Lai Province, floodwaters up to 1.2 metres deep inundated residential areas on 3 September.

Damage from recent flooding has already risen to nearly US$17 million.

The Dong Nai River has also issued flood warnings, with water levels at the Ta Lai station exceeding Alert Level 2.

🇹🇭 Thailand: 54 Provinces on Alert

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has placed 54 provinces and Bangkok on alert for flash floods, forest run-off, mudslides, and waterlogging from 4 to 7 September.

The Thai Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rain across northern and northeastern regions.

🔍 The Regional Stakes: Is Southeast Asia Ready?

The convergence of these disasters raises a sobering question: Is Southeast Asia prepared for what is coming?

The UN’s Overshoot Report confirms that the 1.5°C threshold will be breached, meaning the region will face more frequent, more intense, and more unpredictable climate disasters in the years ahead.

The WMO’s forecast of a “very strong” El Niño persisting through February 2027 suggests that 2027 could bring record-breaking global temperatures.

The region’s bloc, ASEAN, has mechanisms for cooperation, including the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA), emergency simulation exercises, and training programs.

The ASEAN-UN Joint Strategic Plan of Action on Disaster Management 2026–2030 offers an opportunity to refocus on risk assessment, early warning, anticipatory action, and climate adaptation.

But implementation remains a challenge.

The haze crisis is a critical test of ASEAN’s capacity for cooperation, with mechanisms like the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution proving ineffective in practice.

Local authorities and disaster management agencies may have fewer financial resources due to tightening public budgets.

The Philippines has called on ASEAN to shift from reactive disaster response to proactive anticipatory action, building preparedness into the foundations of the region's disaster management.

Yet the gap between ambition and reality remains wide.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For ordinary Southeast Asians, the abstract warnings of climate scientists have become lived reality.

Families in Luzon are stranded on flooded expressways.

Farmers in Sumatra watch their rice fields wash away.

Residents of 54 Thai provinces are bracing for flash floods.

Millions across the region are suffering from respiratory illnesses caused by choking haze.

The tragedy in Nepal is a preview of what the Himalayas, and other fragile mountain ecosystems, will face in a warming world.

The region’s disaster is not just a national calamity; it is a warning that when a country with negligible contribution to global warming bears the heaviest cost, the question of climate justice can no longer be avoided.

The UN’s admission that 1.5°C will be breached should not be read as surrender. It is a call to action: to prepare for the consequences, to protect the most vulnerable, and to work urgently to bring temperatures back down.

🏁 The Bottom Line

The convergence of the Himalayan tragedy, the cascading disasters across Southeast Asia, and the UN’s stark warning on 1.5°C overshoot points to an uncomfortable reality: we are entering an era of compounding extremes.

Natural climate variability and human-induced warming are interacting to produce disasters that exceed what either factor alone could explain. As Guterres said: “The race now is between growing risks and our commitments to climate action and protecting people. We must win that race.”

For Southeast Asia, the path forward requires:

• Investing in proactive disaster preparedness, not just reactive response

• Strengthening early warning systems, particularly for non-rainfall-triggered events

• Scaling up climate adaptation financing, as current investments are inadequate

• Deepening regional cooperation, including data sharing and joint response mechanisms

• Addressing the root causes—including land-use practices, infrastructure failures, and waste management

The Nepal flood shows that some extreme hydrological disasters can occur without any precipitation trigger, simply through a slope process.

This observation is chilling. Traditional flood warning systems rely on rainfall monitoring, yet this disaster struck in complete absence of rain. And this essentially defeats every operational flood warning system in the world.

📰 Need More Angles?

• ASEAN ASEAN Framework on Anticipatory Action in Disaster Management

• Guardian, The Nepal-Tibet floods: millions at risk from glacial floods in Himalayas in years to come, UN warns, as death toll passes 1,000 – as it happened

• Kathmandu Post, The Nepal flood death toll reaches 1,342

• Khaosod English Thailand Warns 54 Provinces of Flash Floods, Landslides

• Saigon Giai Phong News Up to three storms may form in East Sea in September

• UNEP Limiting Overshoot - Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return

• World Meteorological Organization El Niño set to become very strong, raising risks of extreme weather into 2027

#ElNiño2026 #NepalFloods #ClimateCrisis #15Celsius #UNEP #OvershootReport #HimalayanDisaster #SoutheastAsia #ClimateJustice #ASEAN #DisasterPreparedness #GlobalWarming

(ELS/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The Moscow City Tourism Committee hosted a massive business mission at The Westin Jakarta hotel on 1 September 2026, bringing together 110 travel companies, including 15 Moscow representatives, for over 1,000 B2B meetings.

The initiative marks a strategic push by the Russian capital to solidify Indonesia as a primary growth driver for Southeast Asian inbound tourism, expanding the bilateral relationship beyond traditional leisure into MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and the creative economy.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

Moscow and Indonesia are cultivating an increasingly intertwined travel and cultural relationship, accelerated by several key drivers:

📈 Surging Tourist Flow: Indonesian arrivals to Moscow are climbing rapidly, jumping from 5,000 in 2024 to 7,500 in 2025. This momentum continued into H1 2026 with 3,600 trips, marking a 12% year-on-year increase.

🛂 Frictionless Entry: A streamlined e-visa system now processes entry approvals for Indonesian citizens in just four days, significantly lowering logistical barriers.

🕌 Halal-Friendly Ecosystem: Moscow is aggressively adapting its hospitality sector for the Indonesian market by launching Muslim-friendly guides, cataloguing halal restaurants and hotels, and deploying over 150 multilingual, certified tour guides.

🌏 Regional Dominance: Of the 63,800 trips made from Southeast Asia to Moscow in 2025, over 80% of the growth was driven by just three nations: Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

🏛️ The “Brotherhood” Legacy

The current surge in tourism and business is not a sudden pivot, but the revival of an 81-year diplomatic foundation built on deep mutual trust.

"Indonesia and the Soviet Union were considered brothers at that time because of their closeness. Even when President Soekarno gave a speech at the Kremlin in 1956, the Muslim community came in droves because they felt they were part of Indonesia." - Arief Setiawan, Lecturer of International Relations at Brawijaya University in Indonesia.

🌟 The Golden Era: Relations reached an early peak between 1956 and 1962, highlighted by reciprocal visits between President Soekarno and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. The Soviet Union became a critical ally, funding landmark Indonesian infrastructure such as the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and Persahabatan Hospital, while providing extensive military and educational aid.

🍽️ Gastronomic & Cultural Diplomacy: Even during political lulls in the late 20th century, socio-cultural ties survived. Today, experts point to “gastronomic diplomacy” and the promotion of shared “eastern values”—such as communal respect and hospitality—as key drivers keeping the societies connected.

🎓 Youth & Academic Networks: Institutions like MGIMO University (which has long taught the Indonesian language) and the Indonesia-Russia Youth Association (IRYA) continue to build direct humanitarian and professional ties, ensuring the historical “brotherhood” translates into modern start-ups, creative projects, and cultural exchanges.

🕰️ Travel Trends & The “Long Stay” Advantage

Figures from tour operators reveal that Indonesian tourists average a nine-day stay in Moscow—noticeably longer than many other international demographics.

Whilst group tourism remains the dominant format, demand is diversifying into family trips, private tours, educational travel, and gastronomy.

Visitors are increasingly pairing historic landmarks like the Kremlin and Red Square with modern urban spaces such as Zaryadye Park, the ATOM Museum, river cruises, and luxury shopping districts.

🤝 MICE & Creative Industry Expansion

The strategic alignment is moving rapidly from pure leisure travel into lucrative B2B and creative sectors:

💼 Business Travel: Following a record-breaking 1,800 B2B meetings in Jakarta in 2023, Moscow is leveraging this momentum to drive attendance at the upcoming Meet Global MICE Congress (MGMC) on 16–17 December 2026. The event is set to gather over 3,000 industry players from more than 40 countries, including BRICS and Global South nations.

🎮 Digital & Gaming Ties: The Moscow Agency of Creative Industries has established a foothold in Indonesia. After participating in the Indonesia Game Developer Exchange (IGDX) in Bali, Moscow-based companies secured agreements worth about 130 million roubles.

🎬 Film Sector Collaboration: In July 2025, Moschino Film Park hosted an Indonesian delegation—including executives from Ruang Mantra, Parcstar Assembly Inc., and the Kinosuite International Film Festival—to initiate technology and expertise sharing between the two nations’ film industries.

📌 The Bottom Line

Moscow and Indonesia are rapidly building a multi-dimensional partnership that goes far beyond traditional tourism.

By grounding their strategy in an eight-decade legacy of cultural brotherhood, and aggressively tailoring the modern hospitality ecosystem to Indonesian preferences, Moscow is securing its position as a top-tier, long-term destination and strategic partner for Southeast Asia’s most dynamic market.

🔍 Need More Angles?

Antara Indonesia-Russia: the secrets of brotherhood

(JUN/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso, along with Malaysian Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, held the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) on Thursday (9/3) in Jakarta.

During the meeting, both ministers discussed key issues, challenges, and opportunities in bilateral relations, while agreeing on follow-up actions to ensure that agreements and cooperation between the two sides remain on track, are properly implemented, and deliver mutual benefits.

One of the main highlights of the meeting was the shared commitment to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and economic connectivity by optimising the Border Trade Agreement (BTA) and Border Crossing Agreement (BCA), signed by both countries in 2023.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

On 8 June 2023, Indonesian President Joko Widodo made a state visit to Putrajaya, Malaysia, where he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Both heads of state discussed cooperation across various sectors, including cross-border activities, and then signed the Border Trade Agreement (BTA) and Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) to support economic growth in Indonesia and Malaysia.

However, the implementation of the agreements was delayed by three years due to a lengthy ratification and dissemination process, as well as complex internal administrative procedures related to the border that required further negotiations.

📩 The Follow-Up Action

As a follow-up, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim travelled to Jakarta, Indonesia, to attend the 13th Annual Consultation with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on 29 July 2025.

During the meeting, both leaders welcomed their shared commitment to strengthen economic and people-to-people connections along the border, while highlighting the importance of resolving trade and investment issues to deepen economic ties.

Both leaders looked forward to implementing the Indonesia-Malaysia Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) and Border Trade Agreement (BTA) to support local businesses in both countries.

Moreover, officials were urged to expedite internal processes to facilitate the normalisation of trade at the Tebedu-Entikong border, located between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, as soon as possible, in response to strong demand from businesses and people living along the border.

🚧 The Border Trade Agreement

The Border Trade Agreement (BTA) was signed by Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz on 8 June 2023 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

The agreement aims to establish clear rules and a legal basis for customs authorities to monitor cross-border trade, including the types, categories, values, maximum transaction limits, and designated checkpoints for goods and commodities that border residents may trade.

The BTA is an updated version of an earlier agreement that has been in place since 24 August 1970. It improves management, mechanisms, and supervision to better reflect current conditions and the daily needs of people living along the border.

The agreement finally came into effect on 29 May 2026. The ministers welcomed its implementation, alongside the establishment of a BTA Committee to facilitate border trade and support economic activities in communities along the shared border.

✈️ The Border Crossing Agreement

The Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) was signed by Indonesian Home Affairs Minister M. Tito Karnavian and Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister Dato’ Seri Saifuddin Nasution on the same day in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

The agreement focuses on improving connectivity and providing a legal basis for immigration authorities to monitor cross-border movement between the two countries, including at entry points, access areas, and security procedures along the border.

The BCA is a revised version of the previous Basic Arrangement of Border Crossing, signed on 26 May 1967. It includes improvements to meet modern needs, especially through digitalisation of document verification, identification and tracking, as well as wider border access.

The agreement was finally implemented on 17 July 2026. Both sides welcomed its effective implementation, which facilitates cross-border movement between Indonesia and Malaysia.

📈 The Target

There are several targets expected to be achieved through these agreements and meetings:

• Reduce trade barriers: Simplify bureaucratic procedures to boost trade between Indonesia and Malaysia.

• Improve trade: Add more items and increase trade volumes to support the daily needs of communities on both sides.

• Expand investment: Attract more bilateral investment to support economic development, and create more job opportunities in both countries.

• Prevent transnational crime: Help prevent the smuggling of weapons, drugs and other illegal items, as well as human trafficking.

Together, these efforts are expected to deliver mutual benefits, strengthen economic ties, protect border communities, improve their welfare, and boost economic growth in both countries.

🚀 Moving Forward…

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the continued normalisation and facilitation of international trade at the Entikong–Tebedu border, and urged relevant authorities to take concrete measures, improve coordination and resolve remaining issues to facilitate smoother and more efficient cross-border trade.

The two countries also look forward to continued close cooperation through the 5th Indonesia-Malaysia Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC), which will be held in Malaysia on a mutually agreed date in the near future.

💡 Moreover…

The meeting also covered several other areas:

• Business cooperation: The ministers welcomed stronger business cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia, including between the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).

• Market and trade access: The ministers discussed market access and trade, including agricultural and food products, and encouraged both sides to resolve remaining problems that could delay the plan.

• Investment cooperation: The ministers welcomed efforts to create a better investment climate and strengthen investment ties. They also recognised the role of the Malaysia-Indonesia Investment Committee Working Group (MIICWG) in facilitating investment cooperation.

• Other areas: The ministers welcomed continued cooperation in e-commerce, agriculture, halal matters and standards, and encouraged both sides to take follow-up actions.

Relevant authorities in both countries were urged to follow up on the outcomes, and ensure they are implemented as planned.

🏡 Why This Hits Home?

Indonesia and Malaysia have maintained diplomatic relations for 69 years, since Malaysia gained independence from the UK in August 1957. Their economic performance includes:

• Trade value: Indonesia-Malaysia trade reached USD 16.83 billion from January to July 2026, up 21.01% from the same period in 2025 (USD 13.91 billion). Total trade reached USD 24.18 billion in 2025.

• Exports: Indonesia exported USD 8.26 billion in goods to Malaysia from January to July 2026, down from USD 13.06 billion in 2025.

• Imports: Indonesia imported USD 8.57 billion in goods from Malaysia from January to July 2026, down from USD 11.12 billion in 2025.

• Export Commodities: Major Indonesian exports to Malaysia included mineral fuels, animal/vegetable fats and oils, chemical products, copper, steel and iron.

• Import Commodities: Major imports included mechanical and electrical machinery, plastics and related products, organic chemicals, and cocoa and chocolate.

• Investment: Malaysian investment in Indonesia reached USD 17 billion cumulatively from 2023 to 2025.

The effective implementation of the Border Trade Agreement and Border Crossing Agreement, is expected to increase trade revenue and attract more investment between the two countries.

📌 The Bottom Line

Cross-border trade is not just about moving goods and people, but also about creating opportunities for businesses and border communities. With the BTA and BCA now in effect, Indonesia and Malaysia can reduce trade barriers, improve border connectivity and boost economic activity.

The Entikong–Tebedu border is not just a crossing point, but a potential gateway for stronger economic growth. By simplifying procedures and resolving remaining issues, both countries can increase trade, support local businesses and improve the welfare of border communities.

The BTA and BCA are not just agreements on paper, but tools to strengthen Indonesia-Malaysia economic ties. Their effective implementation can make cross-border trade and movement smoother, safer and more efficient, while creating greater mutual benefits for both countries.

🔍 Need More Angles?

Kementerian Pendayagunaan Aparatur Negara dan Reformasi Birokrasi, Indonesia-Malaysia Melakukan Pembaruan Border Trade Agreement

Kementerian Perdagangan, Indonesia-Malaysia Berkomitmen Maksimalkan Implementasi Perdagangan Lintas Batas

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, Joint Statement of the 13TH Annual Consultation Between President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Jakarta, 29 July 2025

Bernadeth, et al. via ResearchGate, Analysis of the Border Trade Agreement (BTA) Between Indonesia and Malaysia After Renewal

The Star, Malaysia, Indonesia Closer to Reopening Tebedu-Entikong Trade Route

(NGO/QOB)

🎯 Main Takeaway

On 29th July 2026, Roblox, in collaboration with Ruangguru, one of Indonesia’s largest education companies, announced a national-scale education initiative for Indonesian students.

The program is aimed at helping to develop students’ creativity, digital literacy, and computational capabilities, and at promoting a responsible attitude on the internet.

With Indonesia being one of the fastest-growing content-creation and Roblox-user markets in the world, the initiative is riding the momentum, blending innovative educational technology and digital citizenship.

Additionally, Roblox also held the Indonesia Creator Meetup 2026 on 8th August 2026. This marked the first time a Roblox Creator Meetup was held in Indonesia.

Gathering 160 creators across the regions of Indonesia, with the new concept of Novel Games, which pushes the limitations of gameplay and visuals in Roblox.

Roblox also presents an initiative to boost this concept through the Jumpstart and Incubator program.

🎮 What is Roblox?

Roblox is an online platform and game creation system where users build, share, and play games made by other users rather than a single game.

It’s marketed as an immersive experience where millions of people can interact daily and share endless unique experiences.

The nature of a platform that heavily relies on user-generated content, such as Roblox, would lead to the creation of many online communities formed by people who share specific interests.

Personalisation and immersion are often cited as Roblox's main qualities; each user can create their own avatar in any way they want, be it human-looking or any imaginable form.

The game even has its own virtual currency called Robux. Given how Roblox is as a platform, it can function beyond a conventional game.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

Indonesian digital literacy is on the line, as the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) states that Indonesia’s Digital Society Index (IMDI) in 2025 has risen from 2024 to 44,53 out of 100.

Despite the positive trend over the years, the growth has been modest compared to the jump from 2022's 37,80 to 2023’s 43,18. Therefore, the Roblox initiative can serve as infrastructure for the growth of digital literacy, where many Indonesian youths are already present.

Moreover, this initiative can also serve as a flagship for the wider Southeast Asia region and beyond. This initiative would be the first time Roblox becomes an environment for digital education on a nationwide scale.

Meaning that the success of this program in Indonesia will likely shape a similar program elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

According to RoWatcher, Southeast Asian countries, especially Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, show the fastest growth on the Roblox platform.

⚠️ Why It’s Important

Currently, the program is active in 261 schools across Indonesia, reaching 230 teachers and 2700 students in 2026, and aims to reach 500 teachers and 7500 students at the middle and high school levels in different regions across Indonesia.

The success of this program could create digital talent that is vital to Indonesia’s growth.

According to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on 21 March 2022, Indonesia will need at least nine million digital talents by 2030 to contribute Rp 4.434 trillion to the national economy.

The Roblox program, which targets middle school (SMP) and high school (SMA) students, plays a crucial role in achieving Indonesia’s digital talent target, as by 2030 these students will become the workforce needed for Indonesia’s national economy.

💻 How does the program work?

The main anchor of this program is Roblox Studio, a free creation platform that allows users to create and publish immersive 3D experiences.

The program would begin with the teachers, who will undergo intensive training to familiarise themselves with the technology, enabling them to facilitate learning through games in Roblox Studio.

Next, teachers will guide students through structured learning modules and project-based activities, so that students can turn their ideas into original interactive experiences.

Additionally, the program involves parents through Parent Talks, where families can gain guidance to support their children's growing creativity and promote safe, positive interaction in the digital world.

This program is scheduled to start at the end of 2026.

Lastly, the program will end with the Roblox Student Competition. Where students accompanied by their teachers are given the opportunity to show off their original Roblox experience with the theme of “Build a Civil & Safe World” Marking the climax of the learning process after months showing their prowess in digital literacy.

🏠 Why it hits home

Beyond helping Indonesian students grow in digital literacy. Roblox has also given Indonesian content creators a platform to showcase their work through the Roblox Creator Meetup.

Many young Indonesian creators from diverse backgrounds presented how they built businesses through their creations on Roblox while fostering an inclusive community.

With a featured game being “The Morgue Shift” which managed to gain a substantial amount of popularity.

And the impact is real: between 2019 and 2024, Roblox's own Economic Impact Report shows the platform's creator economy contributed $8.2 million (Rp126.7 billion) to Indonesia's GDP.

Individual creators are seeing that growth too; between Q4 2022 and Q4 2025, the number of Indonesian creators earning enough to qualify for cash payouts grew 176%.

🏁 Bottom Line

Bringing education into the places where youth spend most of their time addresses both the problem of “how to deliver learning effectively” and “how to get students interested in learning”.

As the number of Roblox users grows rapidly in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia as a whole, it would be a massive step if this growth also translates into a rapid increase in digital literacy in the region.

It also serves as a platform where many users might find their business venture, allowing economic growth amongst citizens to prosper.

Need More Angles?

Antara News: Indonesia needs nine million digital talents in 2030: Minister

Tempo: Begini Indeks Masyarakat Digital 2025 Menurut Komdigi

RoWatcher: Roblox’s Global Surge: How Brazil, India, and Southeast Asia Are Rewriting the Platform’s Future

ROBLOX: How Roblox Impacts the Global Economy New Reports Detail Impact in Indonesia, Japan, and Korea

(FRD/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

On 2 September 2026, Vietnam marked its 81st National Day with solemn flag-raising at Ba Dinh Square, where thousands gathered before the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

In Ca Mau, the southernmost province, a record 2,025-square-meter flag was raised.

In Fukuoka, Japan, the Consulate General held a commemoration for the diaspora. Hanoi lit up with fireworks across five locations.

And in Da Nang, a VR experience transported visitors back to 2 September 1945, when President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independence.

Vietnam has achieved what few nations have: a transition from war-torn poverty to upper-middle-income status, with the World Bank reclassifying it in July 2026.

Exports expanded by more than 15% in both 2024 and 2025, GDP grew by 7% and 8% respectively, and Standard Chartered now forecasts 9.5% growth for 2026.

Yet the very model that delivered this success, export-led industrialisation, heavy reliance on foreign direct investment, and a low-cost labour advantage, is showing signs of strain.

The demographic dividend that powered Vietnam’s rise is fading.

Global trade uncertainty persists. And the path from upper-middle to high-income status by 2045 demands a fundamental shift in how growth is generated and shared.

The story of Vietnam’s National Day is not just about the past. It is about whether the country can summon the same unity and resolve that won independence to win the battle for long-term prosperity.

🕰️ The Making of a Nation: From Colony to Independence

The Vietnam that celebrates its 81st National Day is a nation forged in struggle.

On 2 September 1945, at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

The moment was the culmination of decades of anti-colonial resistance, and the beginning of decades more of war.

The August Revolution succeeded because of three factors:

• A seized opportunity: As World War II ended and Japanese forces surrendered, the Viet Minh, led by the Communist Party, acted swiftly. The general uprising took just days.

• Mass mobilisation: The Party, with only some 5,000 members at the time, united workers, peasants, intellectuals, and patriotic forces under the Viet Minh umbrella.

• The people’s will: As one reflection piece put it, independence was “not a gift bestowed”. It was built on “the strength accumulated over thousands of years of nation-building and defence”.

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🎆 A National Day of Contrasts: Celebration and Challenge

This year’s National Day celebrations reflected both pride and a quiet recognition of unfinished business.

The flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square drew crowds from early morning. The in-flight concert by the Army Ceremonial Band turned a commercial flight into a flying celebration.

The sign-language performance of the national anthem by children with hearing and speech impairments at a social protection centre in Gia Lai Province moved the hearts of many people.

World leaders, including those from China, Russia, and the United States, sent congratulatory messages, praising Vietnam’s achievements and reaffirming bilateral ties.

Yet the messages also carried an implicit acknowledgement: Vietnam’s rising international standing brings heightened expectations, not just goodwill.

The National Day address was a reminder that the will of the people, the same force that won independence, remains the country’s most important strategic resource. But whether that will is being channelled effectively into the next phase of development is an open question.

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📊 The Economic Story: A Remarkable Ascent

Vietnam’s economic transformation over the past four decades is one of the most dramatic in modern history.

From an economy facing severe difficulties and food shortages after the war, it has become a manufacturing powerhouse integrated into global supply chains.

Key achievements:

• World Bank reclassification: Vietnam moved to upper-middle-income status in July 2026, with GNI per capita reaching US$4,970.

• Export-led growth: Merchandise exports expanded by more than 15% in both 2024 and 2025, driven by electronics, machinery, smartphones, textiles, and footwear.

• Rapid GDP growth: GDP grew by 7% in 2024 and 8% in 2025, the fastest in Southeast Asia.

• Rising national income: GNI increased by an average of 10% annually between 2021 and 2025.

The government has set its sights even higher: 10% average annual GDP growth through the rest of the decade, with a target of high-income status by 2045.

Standard Chartered has sharply raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 9.5%, citing strong momentum and a supportive policy environment.

⚠️ The Coming Challenges: Where the Model Breaks Down

Yet even as the numbers impress, structural weaknesses are becoming harder to ignore. The very model that delivered Vietnam’s rise may not be the one that sustains it.

Dependence on FDI and exports

Vietnam’s growth remains heavily reliant on foreign direct investment and export-oriented manufacturing. This model leaves little value captured domestically and makes the economy vulnerable to external shocks. As one analysis put it, “the demographic forces that powered Vietnam’s economic rise over the past decades are fading”.

Global trade uncertainty

The external environment has become more challenging in 2026. US tariffs remain higher than pre-2025 levels, putting pressure on highly open economies like Vietnam. The Middle East conflict poses “significant challenges to the country’s 2026 growth outlook”.

The middle-income trap

Economists warn that Vietnam has a “narrow window to find new drivers of growth before it risks getting stuck in the so-called middle-income trap”. To escape it, Vietnam must move beyond its current growth model toward “a knowledge-based, digital, green and circular economy”.

Human capital and innovation gaps

Despite its economic success, Vietnam faces a shortage of skilled labour. Science and technology spending remains below 2% of GDP, and cumbersome administrative procedures hamper researchers. As one delegate noted, Vietnam must “abandon old growth models” and embrace innovation-driven growth.

Inequality and regional disparities

Concerns also persist over a widening gap between rich and poor. As growth becomes more concentrated in urban, industrial centres, the benefits are not reaching all regions and communities equally.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For ordinary Vietnamese, the National Day celebrations are a moment of pride, a reminder of how far the country has come. But they are also a moment of reflection.

The “Tet Doc Lap” (Independence Festival) is not just about remembering the past; it is about asking what independence means in a new era.

For the millions of Vietnamese workers in factories, the question is whether growth translates into better wages, working conditions, and opportunities.

For farmers in the Mekong Delta, it is whether the benefits of development reach them.

For young people entering the workforce, it is whether Vietnam can create high-quality jobs that match their aspirations.

The lesson of 1945 is that the people’s will is a powerful force. The question for 2026 is whether that will is being mobilised to address the challenges of the present, or whether it is being taken for granted.

🏁 The Bottom Line

Vietnam’s 81st National Day is a celebration of achievement, but it is also a reminder of the work that remains.

The country has outperformed nearly all its peers, moving from poverty to middle-income status in a single generation. It has integrated into global supply chains, attracted record investment, and built a manufacturing base that rivals its neighbours.

But the next phase will be harder. The low-cost labour advantage is fading. Global trade is becoming more uncertain. The middle-income trap looms.

Vietnam’s leaders frequently invoke the spirit of 1945—the unity, the sacrifice, the determination. But spirit alone will not sustain growth.

What Vietnam needs now is a new economic model: one that moves beyond export-led industrialisation, captures more value domestically, invests in human capital, and ensures that prosperity is shared.

Need More Angles?

• Asia News Network Leaders of nations extend congratulations to Vietnam on National Day

• Eurasia Review The Vietnamese Economy And The Coming Challenges – Analysis

• Star, The Solemn flag-raising ceremony marks Vietnam’s 81st National Day

• Tuoi Tre News Vietnam’s National Day marked by stirring songs in sky, sign language on ground

• Vietnam.Vn 81st Anniversary of National Day, September 2nd: Unleashing the Strength of National Unity in the New Era of Development

• VietnamNet Developing a ‘low-altitude economy’: What is the roadmap for Vietnam?

• VnEconomy A bright historic milestone

#VietnamNationalDay #81stIndependenceDay #Vietnam #HoChiMinh #VietnamEconomy #GDPGrowth #MiddleIncomeTrap #IndependenceDay #ASEAN #SoutheastAsia #VietnamDevelopment

(ELS/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The Philippines marked its 95th National Heroes Day on Monday (8/31), honouring the countless known and unknown Filipinos who gave their lives for the country’s freedom, justice, dignity, and independence from Spanish colonialism.

Carrying the theme “Spirit of Heroism, Strength of the Nation”, the holiday highlights the courage, patriotism, and dedication of those who shaped the nation’s history and helped build a better home for its people, families, and communities.

Beyond remembrance, the occasion is also a time to reflect on how their courage and unity shaped the Philippines. It is also a time for present Filipinos to continue their heroic legacy by serving the country and protecting its sovereignty.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

The Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule for more than 300 years. Spanish involvement began when Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the archipelago in March 1521 during a voyage and claimed the islands for the Spanish Crown.

Colonisation began in 1565, when King Philip II of Spain sent Miguel López de Legazpi, who established the first permanent Spanish settlement in Cebu. This was followed by the establishment of the Spanish city of Manila in 1571, which later became the centre of Spanish rule in the archipelago.

Spain had four main goals in colonising the Philippines:

• ✝️ Spread Christianity: Spanish missionaries aimed to spread Roman Catholicism among local communities, many of whom followed animist and polytheistic beliefs, while others practised Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

• 🫚 Securing Spices: Spain sought access to valuable spices from the Moluccas, including cloves, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, and black pepper, which were primarily traded directly with China and Japan.

• ⚓ Securing Routes: Spain sought to control trade and maritime routes to the East Indies, especially routes connected to the Moluccas, to strengthen its position in regional trade.

• 🪖 Strategic Base: Spain was in strong rivalry with Portugal and the Netherlands over territory and global power. The Philippines served as an important base in Asia to strengthen Spain’s position and overcome rival blockades.

These missions put native Filipinos under pressure, leaving them with little freedom and subject to discrimination under colonial rule.

⛓️ Life Under Colonialism

Under Spanish colonial rule, native Filipinos had to adapt to new laws and systems, including the Encomienda and Hacienda systems:

• 💸 Higher Taxes: Native Filipinos had to pay high taxes to the colonisers, either in cash or goods such as rice and gold. The money was used to fund the Spanish government, infrastructure, religious missions, and military defence.

• 👷🏽‍♂️Forced Labour: Indigenous people were forced to work on infrastructure projects for low wages. Farmers also had to grow tobacco, sugar cane, and coconuts on their own land, and sell them to the Spanish at low prices.

• 🎲 Social Inequality: The colonisers created a social hierarchy, with Spaniards at the top, controlling most political, economic, and religious power, mixed Spanish-Filipino people in the middle, and native Filipinos at the bottom, often working for low pay under strict colonial control.

• ♟️ Power Loss: Indigenous and religious leaders who kept local traditions could be punished, while their political power and rights were limited. Those who opposed colonial leaders and religious orders could also lose their land.

• 🔇 Cultural Loss: Local languages, cultures, and traditions gradually faded as colonial authorities and missionaries replaced them with Spanish language, Latin standards, and Catholic traditions.

These abuses of power helped trigger the Philippine Revolution afterwards, as Filipino resistance grew and they fought back against the colonisers, seeking to build a self-governing nation free from foreign rule.

⚔️ The Philippine Revolution

The movement began in 1892, when Andres Bonifacio founded a secret resistance group called Katipunan. Its aim was to recruit members, build a network, spread nationalism, develop strategies, and organise an uprising against Spanish colonialism.

In August 1896, Spanish authorities discovered the Katipunan, prompting Andres Bonifacio and other leaders to openly declare their rebellion against Spanish rule. This event later became known as the Cry of Pugad Lawin.

One year later, the rebellion was defeated, and the Katipunan split into two groups led by Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo’s group became stronger and took control, while Bonifacio was later executed for treason and sedition after refusing to accept Aguinaldo’s leadership.

Aguinaldo continued the resistance and successfully brought the Spanish forces to a stalemate, with neither side willing to surrender. This eventually led to a ceasefire under the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in December 1897, temporarily ending the conflict.

In April 1898, the United States joined the conflict by declaring war on Spain, aiming to take the Philippines from Spanish control. The two sides fought the Battle of Manila Bay in May, which ended in a Spanish defeat. Emilio Aguinaldo then declared Philippine independence from Spanish rule on 12 June 1898.

Spain later signed the Treaty of Paris with the United States in December 1898, ending the Spanish-American War and transferring control of the Philippines to the United States. The United States later granted the Philippines independence through the Treaty of Manila on 4 July 1946.

🏅 The Heroes

There are countless Filipinos who sacrificed their lives for independence, but the Philippine National Heroes Committee recommended nine historical figures as national heroes in 1995:

• José Rizal: A writer, nationalist, and reformist who became a moral inspiration for the Katipunan through his books and novels that exposed Spanish abuses. He was captured and executed by the colonisers in December 1896.

• Andrés Bonifacio: Founder of the Katipunan, who organised the first rebellion against Spanish rule. He was executed by Emilio Aguinaldo in 1897, after Aguinaldo took control of the movement following the Katipunan’s defeat.

• Emilio Aguinaldo: The next leader of the Katipunan, who continued the rebellion against Spanish rule. He pushed back Spanish forces, reached a ceasefire in December 1897, and became the Philippines’ first president in 1899.

• Apolinario Mabini: A political thinker, educator, and statesman who served as Aguinaldo’s chief adviser, helping shape the government and promote the rule of law. He later became the Philippines’ first prime minister in 1899.

• Marcelo H. del Pilar: A reformist writer and journalist who challenged colonial rule through political propaganda and social campaigns, using pamphlets and bilingual newspapers to spread nationalism and expose colonial abuses.

• Sultan Kudarat: A Muslim leader of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the 17th century, who resisted colonisation by fighting Spanish forces to defend Mindanao, its independence, and Islamic faith. His name later became the name of a province in Mindanao.

• Juan Luna: A political activist and the first Filipino painter recognised internationally, who used his paintings to show Filipino suffering and political struggles under colonial rule. He later served as a diplomat for the Philippine government after independence.

• Melchora Aquino: The Mother of the Philippine Revolution, who supported the Katipunan by providing her home for secret meetings, as well as food, clothing, and medical help for its members. She was later captured, imprisoned, and deported by the colonisers, and died at the age of 107 in 1919.

• Gabriela Silang: The first female revolutionary leader, who took command of the rebellion against colonial rule in Ilocos after her husband, Diego Silang, was assassinated by a traitor in March 1763. She later became a symbol of fearless leadership and women’s empowerment in the fight against imperialism.

However, there has been no follow-up announcement by the government, to officially recognise these historical figures as Philippine national heroes.

🌹 The Commemoration

The Philippine government set the last Monday of August as a national holiday, allowing millions of Filipinos at home and abroad to join the commemoration.

• Main Event: A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) in Taguig City, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and attended by government officials, military personnel, and veterans. Flag-raising ceremonies were also held at government buildings, historical sites, and schools.

• Youths: Schools were closed for the holiday, but students and young people could join commemorative and educational activities, such as attending ceremonies, dressing up as national heroes, creating social media content about past and present heroes, and visiting historical sites.

• Filipinos Overseas: Philippine embassies worldwide were closed for the holiday, except for emergency services. Diplomats and ambassadors held flag-raising ceremonies and community gatherings for Filipinos.

• Public: The public can visit historical sites associated with national heroes, including Rizal Park, Aguinaldo Shrine, Fort Santiago, Intramuros, and Mount Samat National Shrine.

These activities are expected not only to honour past heroes, but also to help the public, including children and tourists, better understand Philippine history.

📝 Message from the President

During his speech at the wreath-laying ceremony, President Marcos Jr. shared several messages with Filipinos:

• Modern-Day Heroes: He recognised teachers, farmers, fisherfolk, health workers, emergency responders, soldiers, and overseas Filipinos as modern-day heroes who continue to serve despite difficulties.

• Government Transparency: He stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and quality public service to maintain trust in government institutions.

• Work Together: He urged Filipinos to work together to build a “Bagong Pilipinas”, where citizens stand strong, institutions serve with integrity, and national sovereignty is protected for future generations.

• Protect National Interests: He called for efforts to protect national interests by upholding the rule of law and securing the country’s resources.

• Shared Responsibility: He said protecting Philippine territory is everyone’s responsibility, including teaching young Filipinos about maritime rights, promoting the truth, and fighting disinformation across all platforms.

🛡️ The Maritime Security Concern

President Marcos Jr. also highlighted maritime security as a key concern, especially protecting Philippine waters under UNCLOS, as 2026 marks 10 years since the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

The South China Sea has faced territorial disputes since the 1970s, due to overlapping claims among several countries. These include China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam, leading to frequent confrontations between China and other claimants.

China claimed most of the South China Sea based on a 1953 map showing the nine-dash line. However, neighbouring countries rejected the claim, saying it had no legal basis under international law.

In 2013, the Philippines brought the dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, challenging China’s claims under UNCLOS. China rejected the arbitration process.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued the South China Sea Arbitral Award, ruling that China’s historic claims based on the nine-dash line had no legal basis under UNCLOS.