ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2023 on Digital Development for Sustainable Development Goals kicks off with a virtual Pre-Departure Programme on 4-5 April 2023. Attended by 60 youth from ASEAN Member States and Timor Leste, the 2-day programme is part of the on-site ASEAN Youth Dialogue which will be held on 11-14 April 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Pre-Departure Programme served as a forum for the delegates to join in an interactive discusson on the role of Youth in ASEAN Community, digital development for SDGs which covers digitalisation in ASEAN and partnership for equal access to digital skills and literacy in ASEAN, narrowing the development gaps through creativity and innovation. The delegates also participated in breakout sessions to formulate the zero draft recommendation, which they will further discuss at the on-site event in Jakarta.
Deputy Minister for Youth Development of the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports, Professor Asrorun Ni'am Sholeh, alongside Director of Human Development of ASEAN Secretariat, Rodora Babaran, officially launched the Pre-Departure Programme. “The rapid growth of population in Southeast Asia, which is dominated by young people, has created a potential for ASEAN to be an epicentrum of growth. As agents of development in the region, it is important for the youth in ASEAN to have a mindset that prioritizes solutions, collaboration, and vision.” said Professor Ni’am in his remark.
Setting up the context for the Youth Dialogue, Director for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Cooperation of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Yuliana Bahar reiterated the strategic role of ASEAN youth in the efforts to establish ASEAN as a digital economy region in Asia. In addition Assistant Director/ Head of Education, Youth and Sports Division, ASEAN Secretariat Dr. Roger Chao Jr., emphasized the importance youth’s contribution in achieving the SDGs through digital innovations.
Youth delegates from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste took part in a series of knowledge sharing sessions featuring experts from different backgrounds and stakeholder groups. Speakers involved in the discussion panels include representatives of relevant divisions in ASEAN Secretariat, namely the Digital Economy Division as well as the Culture and Information Division. Also joining as panel speakers were Dr. Bo Chankoulika, Director of the Policy Department, Kemenpora Kamboja; Mahmudi Yusbi, Head of Programme, ASEAN Foundation; Riko Reinarto, Co-Founder of Tanare and Lecturer of Prasetiya Mulya University; and Alwani Shaidun, E-athlete from the Esports Association of Brunei Darussalam.
ASEAN Youth Dialogue is a part of the ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2021-2025 and the 2023 AYD is a collaborative work by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the ASEAN Secretariat and the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta.
Directorate of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Indonesia