SEAToday.com, Jakarta - On November 25, 2024, Vientiane, the capital of Lao PDR, became a hub for regional dialogue as it hosted the 8th ASEAN Media Forum (AMF). Organized by the ASEAN Secretariat’s Community Affairs Directorate, the one-day event brought together media representatives from across Southeast Asia to discuss pressing regional matters. This year, the spotlight was on ASEAN Connectivity and its progress.

Now in its eighth year, the AMF has established itself as a critical platform for ASEAN to share its goals, achievements, and challenges with the media. Beyond information sharing, the forum fosters open dialogue and debate on issues of regional and global significance.

ASEAN Connectivity, one of the region’s flagship initiatives, aims to bridge gaps across physical, institutional, and people-to-people connections. Its overarching goal is to reinforce the ASEAN Community’s economic, political, and socio-cultural pillars while addressing disparities in development.

Guided by the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, the initiative is striving to make advancements in areas such as sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory improvement, and enhanced mobility for individuals across the region.

Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of the Mekong Institute, highlighted that while ASEAN Connectivity has made notable progress, it is crucial to think beyond connectivity. He emphasized the need for resilience to withstand changes and address the demands of climate adaptation and global supply chains. Suriyan also pointed to ASEAN’s shift towards a green economy and climate resilience, positioning the region as an emerging hub in the global supply chain network.

Despite these strides, ASEAN Connectivity continues to face challenges. The lack of a coordinating institution for infrastructure development, complexities in identifying and executing regional projects, and the need for transparency in data-sharing frameworks remain key issues.

Resource mobilization is also a pressing concern, with finite resources requiring ASEAN to explore self-financing mechanisms while navigating the realities of a multipolar world. Translating regional agreements into actionable national policies remains a critical step for member states to ensure the initiative’s success.

The discussions at the 8th ASEAN Media Forum underscored the importance of collaborative efforts among ASEAN governments, private sector players, and media representatives. The future of ASEAN Connectivity depends on its ability to adapt and address these challenges while fostering unity and resilience within the region.