Lakoat.Kujawas (Timorese for loquat and guava) in the Mollo highlands of Timor, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, is a thriving community-led initiative that archives local knowledge and creates spaces for people to gather, celebrate, learn, and preserve their cultural heritage. Since it began in 2016, Lakoat.Kujawas has evolved from a library into a broader archival centre. … Lakoat.Kujawas: Food, Heritage, and the Stories We Share
Adobo, sinigang, and ube desserts are some Filipino dishes gaining global recognition—largely thanks to a growing number of high-profile Filipino restaurants and chefs, diaspora communities, viral vlogs and social media posts, and praise from renowned chefs and food critics. Some have even declared Filipino food the next big thing in the culinary world.
Chef Noi grew up around a kitchen, foraging and fishing with her father and learning to prepare food with her grandmother. These shaped her perspective on food and taught her responsibility, resilience, hard work, and frugality. Chef Noi owns a restaurant, Doi Ka Noi, which specialises in traditional Lao cuisine. It has recently earned a … Preserving Traditional Lao Flavours
Ros Rotanak or Chef Nak describes Cambodian food as incredibly diverse and naturally healthy. “Cambodian dishes are well-balanced, incorporating salty, sweet, sour, and umami flavours in perfect harmony. Our ingredients are typically fresh and locally sourced, often found in villages, growing along fences, or in home gardens.”
“The agritech sector across ASEAN has seen both remarkable successes and sobering failures.” Thirty-five-year-old Aukrit Unahalekhaka shares this candid view with The ASEAN during our conversation. The co-founder and CEO of Ricult, an agricultural technology startup, has worked in the field since 2016. He launched the company alongside Usman Javaid, a fellow master’s student from … Agritech Startup Ricult: Built with Farmers, Rooted in Innovation
On 6 February 2025, the Mission of India to ASEAN and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia hosted a seminar titled “Commemorating a Decade of India’s Act East Policy: Reflections and the Way Forward for ASEAN-India Relations.”
Climate action, particularly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, has become a key objective of an increasing number of official development assistance (ODA) projects. International financial institutions, bilateral aid organisations, and multilateral development banks are directing significant resources toward initiatives aligned with the Paris Agreement. These organisations have funded a broad spectrum of activities, from expanding … Beyond Climate Action: Towards ASEAN-ROK Solidarity through Green Growth
Coastal cities in ASEAN are among the most densely populated and economically significant areas, with approximately 77 per cent of the total population residing in these regions. These cities contribute significantly to national economies, accounting for over 60 per cent of GDP in some countries. However, their geographical placement along coastlines exposes them to various … Enhancing the Resilience of Coastal Cities in ASEAN by Iffah F. A. Talib
KUCHING, Sarawak, Malaysia, 24 April 2025 – The 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council successfully concluded today. “As the ASCC Blueprint 2025 draws near to its conclusion, the ASCC has taken proactive steps in future-proofing its post-2025 future with the ASCC Strategic Plan, which presents a holistic strategy and measures anchored on sectoral … Press release of the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council
After a massive earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March 2025, ASEAN Member States immediately extended their deepest sympathies and condolences to those affected by the deadly quake. The 7.7 magnitude tremor caused significant losses of life, injuries, and damage, particularly in the areas near the epicentre of Mandalay, Myanmar—Sagaing, Magway, Shan State, Naypyidaw, … ASEAN’s Response to the Mandalay Earthquake