On 17 September 2018, ASEAN Committee in Kuwait (ACK) and Saud N. Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute co-organised a seminar on entitled, “Getting to know more about ASEAN : A Community of Opportunities”, at the Crowne Plaza hotel. About 165 guests attended the event.

          This seminar aims to share information regarding the various significant developments recently taking place in ASEAN, demonstrate the strong relationship and highlight the prospects to further develop cooperation between ASEAN and the State of Kuwait both bilaterally and within the regional and international frameworks. The speakers at the seminar were; Ms. Usana Berananda, Deputy Director General of ASEAN Department, Thailand, H.E. Trinh Minh Manh, Ambassador of Vietnam to the State of Kuwait, Associate Professor Mark Speece from American University of Kuwait and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Hadban from Kuwait University. The seminar covered the overview of ASEAN, the ASEAN centrality, ASEAN as an economic community and ASEAN-GCC cooperation and prospective cooperation between Kuwait and ASEAN. The guests also enjoyed the exhibition of cultural and tourism materials as well as a selection of ASEAN food delicacies.

          Among the guests were; H.E. Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Sharekh, Director General of KDI, H.E. Ambassadors of ASEAN countries, Australia and Nepal, diplomats from China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UA ,etc,.., representatives from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, students from American University and Kuwait University.

          The seminar was successful in gaining a higher than expected attendance from foreign diplomats, Kuwaiti government agencies, students, local public and media.

          The ACK is composed of ambassadors of nine ASEAN countries which have a diplomatic mission in Kuwait, namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.