- Istimewa/Jo Kenaru/Labuan Bajo
VIVA Engish – The 42nd ASEAN Summit is set to take place in Indonesia in May 2023. The event will be held in Labuan Bajo, a small town located in the West Manggarai Regency in East Nusa Tenggara province. This marks the second time that Indonesia will host the ASEAN Summit, the first being in 2011 in Bali.
According to Setya Utama, Secretary of the Ministry of State Secretariat, the preparations for the summit are already 90% complete. He mentioned that the remaining 10% will be done closer to the event, such as the arrangement of flowers, tables, and chairs, which will be done a day before the event.
“With cooperation and synergy from ministries, institutions, and all involved parties, preparations have reached 90 percent as of today," Setya said in a virtual discussion held by FMB9 in Jakarta, Friday 5th May 2023.
The summit will officially begin on May 6, with the arrival of permanent representatives from ASEAN and delegations in Labuan Bajo. The following day, on May 7, the Committee of Permanent Representative (CPR) ASEAN will hold a meeting in Golo Mori. This will be followed by the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) ASEAN, which will also take place in Golo Mori on May 8.
On May 9, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting will be held at Hotel Ayana, and the summit itself will begin on May 10 at Hotel Meruorah. The spouses of the ASEAN leaders will also participate in a program held in Puncak Waringin on the same day.
The summit's events will include a welcoming dinner at Hotel Ayana and a sunset sailing trip to Pulau Bidadari. The closing event will be a press briefing by Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Hotel Bintang Flores.
Indonesia has been preparing for the summit for years, with the government investing in the necessary infrastructure and facilities to host such an event. The MICE (meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition) infrastructure in Golo Mori has been set up with the support of various agencies, including state-owned enterprises and the Public Works and Housing Ministry.
The ASEAN Summit is a significant event in the region, providing an opportunity for leaders to discuss important issues and develop strategies for the region's growth and development. The theme for the 2023 ASEAN Summit is "We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper," emphasizing the importance of cooperation and collaboration among ASEAN member states.
Indonesia's hosting of the summit will showcase the country's capabilities and highlight its role as a leader in the region. With the majority of preparations completed, Indonesia is ready to welcome the leaders of the ASEAN member states to Labuan Bajo and host a successful summit in May 2023.
