Indonesian Embassy hosts bazaar to showcase ASEAN spirit

The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh hosted the ASEAN Bazaar on Saturday, a public gathering which is part of the effort to promote Southeast Asian spirit and pride through raising awareness and understanding of each member state’s unique cultural identity and production.

Commencing at 9am, the ASEAN bazaar featured stalls displaying and selling foods and items from the 10 ASEAN member states, from Malaysian Nasi Lemak to Myanmar gemstones.

The event also presented the multinational attendees with a rare opportunity to see different cultural performances given by artists from Southeast Asian nations.

In his remarks during the opening ceremony, Santo Darmosumarto, the Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, said the Indonesian Embassy is delighted to host the ASEAN Bazaar, which represents the togetherness and common identity among the ASEAN community.

“ASEAN is born out of common interest, and we have been pushing the concept of togetherness – especially the missions from ASEAN nations in Phnom Penh – and there is no better way to do this than sharing food and music,” he said.

“I hope you will leave the bazaar with your belly full and your heart more full.”

As the guest of honour at the event, Sok Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, asked the attendees to celebrate the spirit of ASEAN based on the concept of “unity in diversity”.

In his remarks, the Minister highlighted the significance of the event to showcase ASEAN high-quality products and craftsmanship, raise awareness of ASEAN among the public, and further promote an exchange the diverse cultures, heritage, long traditions, and cuisines of AEAN.

“The Bazaar was also part of economic diplomacy, which aligned perfectly with the vision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s Economic Diplomacy Strategy and particularly the Economic Diplomacy Strategy 2024-2028,” he said.

Singapore Ambassador Teo Lay Cheng told Khmer Times that the ASEAN Bazaar thrilled her, with its electric atmosphere brimming with energy and excitement.

“The Embassy has two booths – one taken up by Dakshin’s Restaurant, a Singaporean-owned culinary gem renowned for its delectable Indian flavours, and the other by Joshua Chiang, a Singaporean artist based in Phnom Penh,” she said.

“Events like these help to build meaningful connections within the diverse ASEAN community. It’s a really good feeling to see so many people turning up.”

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding members of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei joined ASEAN on January 7, 1984, followed by Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Laos and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999, making up what are today the ten member states of ASEAN.

The total nominal GDP of the bloc measured in US dollars amounts to $3.6 trillion in 2022. The total size of the ASEAN economy was slightly larger than India in 2022, which had an estimated GDP of $3.5 trillion in that year.