PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be organising the 56th ASEAN Day celebration on 8 August 2023 in collaboration with the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The event will be held at the IIUM Cultural Centre in Gombak, Selangor with the theme “Promoting Regional Sustainable Growth”.

The theme underscores the importance of concerted efforts towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the benefit of all especially when the world is facing geo-political and global economic uncertainties which are affecting the socioeconomic well-being of the people.

The ASEAN Day celebration provides an opportunity for the IIUM to showcase its Sejahtera Centre’s efforts in humanising education through SDGs. There will also be an exhibition involving some local companies and NGOs demonstrating their innovative sustainability solutions to facilitate social, environment and economic developments.

This collaboration will help bring to light on how efforts across the various sectors in Malaysia can help promote sustainability and contribute to Malaysia’s strategy of green growth to implement the SDGs. Such efforts at the national level are also an extension of ASEAN’s collective efforts to promote communal involvement in advancing inclusive sustainable economic growth in the region and is in line with the 2023 ASEAN Chair’s theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”.

The ASEAN Day celebration will involve participation of representatives from the Diplomatic Missions of ASEAN Member States and External Partners, International Organisations, Ministries and Agencies, private sector entities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), students and media in Malaysia.