Friday, 12 August 2016, Centre for ASEAN Public Relations Studies (CAPRS) together with ASEAN Public Relations Network (APRN) presented ASEAN Talks Event. Along with the aim of CAPRS to to educate the public about ASEAN, this event is supported by APRN as a part of their Public Relations program to promote ASEAN cooperation.

In August 2016, CAPRS and APRN worked with ASEAN Partnership Directorate of Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host ASEAN Talks #4 with the theme ASEAN Community: Now and Future. ASEAN Talks #4 theme this month is in accordance with ASEAN 49th Anniversary, and also to respond people’s concern about ASEAN community, especially the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Indonesian people are concerned if Indonesia is ready or not to face AEC. Indonesia also questions the quality and competence of competing in AEC.

ASEAN Talks #4 was held on Friday, 12 August 2016 from 2 PM to 4 PM in Prof Margono Research Centre, LSPR Jakarta, JL KH. Mas Mansyur Kav.35, Jakarta. Opening remark from the Director and Founder of LSPR Jakarta, Prita Kemal Gani, MBA, MCIPR, APR, mentioned that public relations is an important issue to narrow the gap among ASEAN by disseminating the information on ASEAN and endorse friendship and understanding between each other’s barriers.

Presenting speaker, Mr Ashariyadi, Secretary of ASEAN Partnership Directorate of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the importance of ASEAN Economic Community and went into details on the Strength Weakness Opportunity and Threat and the performance of AEC. He also stated that ASEAN GDP reached USD 2.43 trillion in 2015 and has became the 6th world’s economy power. Following that, Mr Ashariyadi answers all the doubts and myths going on among the people regarding ASEAN Community.

A number of questions arised about ASEAN were also explained by Mr Ashariyadi such as ASEAN region that will become a single market, and actually will become a trigger of being a good quality resource to compete with other nation members in ASEAN.
(by: Yuliana Riana P, Head of CAPRS and Past Novel, Secretary General of CAPRS)