A sustainable and integrated ASEAN through our youths

Mr Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

1. I would like to begin by congratulating Lao People’s Democratic Republic for assuming Chairmanship of the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY XI) this year, and H.E. Alounxai Sounnalath [“Ah-loon-sai Soon-na-lat”] for assuming the Chair role. I am deeply appreciative to the Government of Lao PDR for graciously hosting AMMY XI and your warm hospitality extended to the Singapore delegation.

Key focus areas for youth at AMMY XI

2. The ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2016 to 2020 aims to prepare our youth for the future, tackling key issues like employment, entrepreneurship and awareness of ASEAN. Singapore is fully supportive of the work plan, and we are committed to do our part.

3. Looking ahead, as we live in a dynamic and complex world, there is much work to do. The rise of digital technology and social media has changed how we access various services, receive news, and stay connected with our families, friends and communities. While these are exciting times for youth in ASEAN, we need to pay attention to their needs, aspirations, and concerns.

4. Against this backdrop, it is therefore timely for a Post-2020 ASEAN Work Plan on Youth. Singapore stands together with ASEAN member states in prioritising education; employment and opportunity; health and well-being; participation and volunteerism; and ASEAN awareness, values and identity.

5. We must engage our youths better, so that they can navigate an increasingly complex landscape. We must help them become more informed citizens who have a keen interest in larger national issues, and equip them with the tools and platforms to take action and improve our society. Let them have a say in policies that shape our future, and get them fully on board as we build stronger ties in ASEAN. Allow me to share what we have done in the past year, and what we can do moving forward.

ASEAN chairmanship

6. Last year, as part of Singapore’s chairmanship of ASEAN, we rolled our three key initiatives for youth:

   • First, we renewed the Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund with a US$5 million top-up. We hope that the fund will support more ground up initiatives and encourage greater interaction among youth in ASEAN. Since its launch in 2007, the Fund has supported over 200,000 youths in areas such as leadership development, community service and entrepreneurship. Since its top-up in April last year, we supported 32 projects totalling US$1.1 million that reached out to about 15,000 youths.

   • Second, we hosted “Hyperplay”, the first ASEAN Esports and Music Festival. Over 8,000 youths from ASEAN attended it, which was eventually won by the team from Malaysia. While esports is a new area for many of us, we recognised its potential as an innovative way to connect youths in ASEAN through competition, sportsmanship, and fun. We will make esports one of the key features of our annual youth festival, “YOUTH^x, alongside music and dance.

   • Third, we launched the ASEAN Youth Fellowship which involved 40 youth leaders from the region in a week-long programme to learn network with each other. The second edition will take place from 28 September to 5 October this year, and will feature a new component that will bring the participants to another country, in this case Malaysia, for a couple of days. I would like to thank everyone here for their strong support, and we look forward to hosting another batch of outstanding youth from your countries.

Strengthening ties in ASEAN through our youths

7. Since 2016, we have actively developed programmes that promote interaction and understanding between youths in ASEAN, such as bilateral and multilateral exchanges. Beyond our chairmanship year, youth development in ASEAN will continue to be a key priority for Singapore:

   • First, we will grow our bilateral Youth Leaders Exchange Programmes (YLEPs) to build leadership capabilities and foster friendships among our youth leaders. We are working closely with our ASEAN counterparts including Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia to co-organise the Exchange Programmes. These programmes bring our youths together to promote understanding and appreciation of our respective national policies, systems and cultures, as well as broader regional developments. We hope to work with you to establish these programmes with your country.

   • Second, around 23,000 of our youths from Institutes of Higher Learning go into ASEAN for student exchanges, internships and service learning. Mr Chairman, yesterday I met 13 Singaporean students doing their internships in Laos. We recently started the Youth Expedition Project Plus (YEP+), aimed to increase awareness of the opportunities for collaboration in the business and social enterprise sectors.

   • Third, we have organised with Temasek Foundation a leadership camp for 120 student sports leaders from ASEAN, Timor-Leste, China, India, Japan and Republic of Korea in March this year.

8. In this time when the world order is evolving, the peace and security of the region depends on all of us around the table. ASEAN continues to play a central role in regional security and economic development.  Deepening our regional economic integration and joint development has become even more important than before. We must spread learning, innovation and best practices as best as we can, so the region as a whole can continue to grow. In 2017, we introduced the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) to strengthen our connection with innovation hubs around the world, including within ASEAN. We have recently launched the GIA in Bangkok and established Block71 in Jakarta, a physical hub for start-ups to receive mentoring support and access new markets, network, and funding opportunities. Leveraging GIA’s overseas networks, our universities have also piloted new overseas internships in ASEAN.

9. ASEAN offers us the scope to bring together the region’s collective efforts and resources to secure meaningful and impactful outcomes. This will put us in good stead in managing the effects of trade friction and anti-globalisation policies. It is time to draw on our region’s shared vision and collective strength, and remind our youths of the bigger vision of ASEAN.

Conclusion

10. Our youths will bring our nations forward. We must work together with them, give them the opportunities and equip them with the tools to tackle the challenges of the future. All of us have much to gain when our youths develop friendships, mutual understanding and respect, and a spirit of collaboration with one another. This strengthens their solidarity and shared ownership of the region’s future. It is my hope and aspiration that these strong ties will create a sustainable and integrated ASEAN that will be a shining light that benefits not just the region, but also for the world.

11. Thank you.