On March 15, 2023, MI Executive Director, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. The two discussed potential areas for cooperation and joint activities. 

The parties covered a variety of issues during the meeting, with the Sec. Gen. applauding MI for being awarded the ASEAN Prize 2021 Recipient in recognition of the Institute’s contribution to the Greater Mekong Subregion and ASEAN Community Building. He then encouraged MI to continue to work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to contribute to long-term sustainable development in both ASEAN and the subregion, especially in the areas of agriculture and food security and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development.

Lastly, the Sec. Gen urged MI to explore synergies and alignment to ASEAN and the ASEAN Member States in advancing the ‘ASEAN Community Building’ agenda and the long-term resilience of the region.