Meaningful Youth Participation towards Inclusive ASEAN

Titled “Beyond ASEAN 2023: Fostering Meaningful Youth Participation” the seminar was kicked off with a keynote message by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy.  One of the important keys to realizing ASEAN as a world growth center is to encourage the participation of ASEAN youth as much as possible in various stages of national development. "The quality of youth will greatly determine the quality of economic, social, environmental and cultural development in ASEAN. We have a shared responsibility to develop the potential of ASEAN youth," he said.

Currently, there are about 1.2 billion youth aged 15-24 in the world, equivalent to 16 percent of the global population. In the ASEAN region, there are 224.2 million youth aged 15-35, accounting for one-third of Southeast Asia's population. While in Indonesia alone, 24 percent of the population is youth. This large proportion of youth is a demographic bonus that can be optimized to achieve various development goals. Minister Muhadjir Effency invited ASEAN youth to play an active role in the development of Southeast Asia as a stable, peaceful region, as well as a center of growth in the global arena.