The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Doha, currently chaired by Singaporean ambassador to Doha Chowming Wong, recently marked the 57th anniversary of the establishment of the bloc.

The ambassadors and charge d'Affaires of the five founding members of Asean – Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand – attended the event with the ambassadors of Asean members Vietnam and Brunei alongside Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Protocol director ambassador Ibrahim Fakhroo and other dignitaries.

The other members of the bloc are Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

The theme under Laos’ Asean chairmanship this year is *Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.

The theme highlights Asean’s commitment to fostering stronger connections to build resilience, both within Asean and with its trusted external partners, such as Qatar, which acceded to Asean’s Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in 2022.

Accordingly, Wong stressed: "We are glad to see exchanges at the highest levels between the leaders of Qatar and Asean.”

“His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani made a state visit to the Philippines in April this year at the invitation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, while Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto both visited Doha in May,” he said.

“His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim also met then-Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the inaugural Asean-GCC Summit in Riyadh last October,” Wong added. “HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani visited Singapore in August 2023."

He further said that Asean is a dynamic region comprising more than 670mn people, of whom 60% are below the age of 35.

Its dynamism lies in its ability to evolve, integrate, and collaborate across economic, political, security, and social-cultural dimensions.

Today, the envoy said, Asean is one of the fastest growing regions of the world with a combined GDP amounting to $3.6tn in 2022, a figure that is set to double within the next two decades.

Asean is poised to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030.

Wong noted that Qatar’s ties with Asean have grown steadily.

Qatar’s total trade with Asean amounts to an annual estimate of $9bn.

Qatar is also a key investor in Asean, with investments in the energy, financial, real estate, telecommunications, agribusiness, hospitality, and medical sectors.

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore.

Investments from Qatar into Singapore are estimated at $3bn, and are mostly in the energy, financial, insurance, and real estate sectors.

Amidst the growing energy trade in the region, QatarEnergy has established a liaison office in Thailand, further strengthening its presence and enhancing collaboration within the regional market.

Prominent companies from Qatar such as Ooredoo, Nebras Power, and QNB Group have established a presence in Indonesia.

Investors from Qatar are currently exploring expansion of their portfolio in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

Further, Asean member state investments in Qatar have grown steadily, with notable projects already existing in the oil and gas, hospitality, information and communications technology (ICT), construction, and retail sectors.

As key food exporters, some of the Asean member states also play a vital role in supporting Qatar's food security efforts to achieve its National Vision 2030, Wong added.