Indonesia is spearheading a new ASEAN youth development strategy for the post-2025 period, using the ASEAN Youth Development Index (YDI) as a key reference for shaping sustainable policies and programs.
The initiative was presented during the Workshop on the End-Term Review (ETR) of the ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2021–2025 and Visioning Exercise for Post-2025 ASEAN Youth Cooperation, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sept. 22–23, 2025.
Senior officials from all ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste attended the forum, which assessed progress over the past five years, identified challenges, and explored policy directions for 2026–2030, according to a press statement received by ANTARA on Thursday.
Esa Sukmawijaya, Indonesia’s Deputy Assistant for Global Youth Development, called on ASEAN nations to fully commit to the regional work plan and take proactive roles in organizing youth programs.
On the sidelines, he also met with Singaporean officials and discussed potential youth business collaborations with Timor-Leste and Brunei.
Annisa Eldina Larasati, a technical policy analyst at the ministry, emphasized the importance of involving young leaders and activists from both national and local levels to strengthen ASEAN’s youth advocacy efforts.
Delegates also reviewed the draft ASEAN Youth Work Plan 2026–2030, ensuring alignment with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Indonesia’s Golden Indonesia 2045 goals.
The strategy underscores sustainable development and inclusive participation, aiming to empower youth from the grassroots to the national level.
Outcomes from the workshop will guide ASEAN’s future youth initiatives, with the goal of building a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive regional youth community.
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Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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