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ASEAN Day marked with plan to expand headquarters
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ASEAN flags flutter in the wind in front of the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
The government is ready to move forward with plans to expand the ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta, a minister has said.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said Monday that the former premises of the South Jakarta mayor’s office, located near the current ASEAN Secretariat building in South Jakarta, had been officially returned to the ministry.
"These two premises will soon become the new ASEAN Secretariat building," Retno said during celebrations for ASEAN Day.
The minister added that construction for the new building would commence in early 2017 and was expected to be finished by the end of 2018. The final design was selected from 80 proposals during an open contest in 2015.
"With 17 stories and two semi-basements, this will be an ecofriendly building with a touch of Betawi culture," Retno said.
ASEAN recently marked its 49th anniversary on Aug. 8. Almost five decades since its inception in 1967, ASEAN countries’ combined gross domestic product (GDP) has reached more than US$2.5 trillion, making it the seventh largest economy in the world.
Retno called for the continued development of ASEAN, saying that with its large population of more than 600 million people, the regional block’s potential market was larger than the EU or North America.
The minister also emphasized the importance of making progress on all ASEAN pillars to achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and to foster growth and prosperity in the region.
Retno highlighted the importance of a common commitment to safeguard ASEAN centrality and unity, which must remain a key principle to pave the way for further progress in the region. (ebf)
