ASEAN Foundation and SEAFDEC collaborate to promote sustainable fisheries for food security in Southeast Asia | ASEAN Foundation supports capacity building of small holder ASEAN aquaculture farmers | ASEAN Foundation, ERIA, ITeconomy Advisors to study IT economic impact | ASEAN Foundation, business groups launch ASEAN network for corporate social responsibility | ASEAN Foundation partners with BitDefender and QCOM Group

Executive Director's View | Profile | Speeches As the ASEAN Foundation enters the second decade of its existence, it faces a two-fold challenge. Firstly, it must support ASEAN community building as called for in the ASEAN Charter. Secondly, it must attain long-term financial sustainability. During the past ten years, the Foundation accomplished much towards attaining its twin objectives of (a) promoting greater awareness of ASEAN, and greater interactions among the peoples of ASEAN as well as their wider participation in ASEAN’s activities; and (b) contributing to the evolution of a development cooperation strategy that promotes mutual assistance, equitable economic development, and the alleviation of poverty. It supported over 100 projects implemented by various organizations representing a cross-section of ASEAN stakeholders and enabled the training of more than 18,000 ASEAN nationals. But the ASEAN Charter has given the further mandate to the ASEAN Foundation to support the Secretary-General of ASEAN and collaborate with the relevant ASEAN bodies to support ASEAN community building by promoting greater awareness of the ASEAN identity, people-to-people interaction, and close collaboration among the business sector, civil society, academia and other stakeholders in ASEAN. As the fourth Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, I look forward to tackling the challenge of helping – in whatever little way possible – establish the ASEAN Community, in particular, by supporting and implementing activities that will help realize the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. But this is possible only if the ASEAN Foundation will have the financial and other resources that can move it a notch higher as a regional organization. For this purpose, I intend to devote more of my time and the current resources of the Foundation to attaining long-term financial sustainability for the ASEAN Foundation. With strong support from the ASEAN Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Council of Advisors, I hope to utilize the wide network of contacts and friends that I have built through over 40 years of serving in the academe, private sector, ASEAN, United Nations, and Philippine government to gain support and mobilize resources for the Foundation. In line with the ASEAN Charter’s mandate of promoting collaboration among the business sector and civil society, I hope to develop meaningful partnerships with private corporations, individuals and other foundations to pursue common objectives.   The two-fold challenge faced by the ASEAN Foundation may last beyond my three-year term. Nevertheless, I hope to be able to make a good beginning and for this I would need the support and cooperation of all individuals and institutions that care about the future of ASEAN. And together we can help build a better future for our region and community.   Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte, Jr. Executive Director   Executive Director's View | Profile | Speeches

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