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[DOHA PE PHOTOCARD] 56th ASEAN Anniversary through Food Festival 2023.png


DOHA 22 September 2023 – The ASEAN Committee in Doha (ACD) commemorated the 56th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) through the launch of the weeklong ASEAN Food Festival in Isaan restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on 18 September 2023.

The ACD is composed of the Embassies of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the State of Qatar and current Chair of the ACD, H.E. Lillibeth V. Pono, conveyed the theme for this year’s celebration: “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.”

She also highlighted the regional bloc’s remarkable progress since its foundation.

“ASEAN is a region marked by vitality and dynamism,” she said. “In fact, with a combined GDP of around three trillion dollars, ASEAN is poised to become the fourth largest economy in the world.”

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Ambassador Pono also welcomed the State of Qatar’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2022, stating that such accession reflects the steady rise of ASEAN’s relations with its external partners. 

Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the State of Qatar and lead organizer of the Food Festival, H.E. Sira Swangsilpa, provided an overview of the concept behind the culinary celebration.

He also encouraged dignitaries from different Qatari ministries, members of various diplomatic missions, and special guests to try out the distinctive cuisines of Southeast Asia as prepared by Isaan, the partner restaurant for the event.

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Performances that showcased traditional Southeast Asian dances and music, as well as an exhibit of national dresses, complemented the launch of the event.

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