ASEAN Entities (Annex 2)

ASEAN Entities

ASEAN Entities are organisations officially accredited by ASEAN under Annex II of the ASEAN Charter. They represent ASEAN’s diverse community, including parliamentarians, judiciary, business groups, think tanks, academic institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders. List of Entities Associated with ASEAN can be downloaded here.

ASEAN-accredited entities are entrusted with the responsibility of advancing ASEAN’s shared interests. In addition, they promote greater awareness of ASEAN’s principles, thereby contributing meaningfully to the ASEAN Community-building process.

The Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN

The Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN is the main platform for structured engagement between the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Entities and Centres of Excellence. It has convened annually since 2017. The Forum strengthens engagement among ASEAN Entities and aligns their work with ASEAN’s priorities. It also allows ASEAN Entities and Centres to engage directly with the Secretary-General and senior ASEAN officials. The Forum helps identify ways to collaborate across ASEAN’s three community pillars: the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

10th Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN

The 10th Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN convenes on 12–13 May 2026 at the ASEAN Headquarters/Secretariat in Jakarta. The theme is “Navigating Our Future, Together.”

This year’s Forum brings several notable innovations. For the first time, the event spans two days. ASEAN Entities and Centres co-organise side events held in conjunction with the Forum. The Forum is also open to the public. This reflects ASEAN’s commitment to fostering community awareness and inclusive engagement.

A Decade of Engagement: The Forum Through the Years

Since its inaugural convening in 2017, the Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN has steadily grown into a cornerstone of ASEAN’s multi-stakeholder engagement. Each edition reflects the region’s evolving priorities. The Forum has progressed from in-person dialogues to virtual convenings during the pandemic, and has now returned to fully in-person engagements. The following overview traces this journey year by year.

• The journey began with the 1st Forum of Entities, held on 4 May 2017, where 153 participants representing 55 entities deliberated on the potential contributions of ASEAN Entities to the implementation of ASEAN Vision 2025 and plans to commemorate ASEAN’s 50th anniversary. As a result, the Forum promoted greater coordination among entities and contributed to defining collaborative strategies, supporting the realization of ASEAN Vision 2025 and successful anniversary celebrations.
• Building on this foundation, the 2nd Forum of Entities convened on 15 October 2018, featuring 88 participants from 40 entities. The Forum facilitated meaningful engagement with Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and fostered updates on ASEAN’s three community pillars, strengthening collaboration among entities.
• With momentum sustained, the 3rd Forum of Entities took place on 29 April 2019, bringing together 137 participants representing 56 entities. The Forum fostered greater engagement by including an interface with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and the incoming Deputy Secretaries-General, promoting dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders.
• 4th Forum of Entities, 20 October 2020: First Forum convened online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 120 participants. Discussions centred on ASEAN’s pandemic response, facilitating coordinated actions among entities in addressing regional challenges.
• 5th Forum of Entities, 11 June 2021: Second consecutive online Forum. Nearly 100 participants. The CPR held an interface under the 2021 ASEAN Chair theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper.” The Forum also marked the launch of the Entities Digital Platform, providing a new channel for continuous stakeholder interaction.
• The 6th Forum of Entities on 25 November 2022 marked a significant return to in-person engagement, strengthening dialogue. This strengthened dialogue and networking opportunities. With 52 entities and 56 participants, the Forum fostered productive exchanges. It included an interface with both the incumbent and incoming CPR Chair, contributing to discussions on ASEAN’s regional priorities. Our forum facilitated new connections and collaboration opportunities, particularly through an interface with Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, marking his first direct engagement with ASEAN Entities and highlighting a significant step in strengthening engagement between leadership and entities.
• 7th Forum of Entities, 15 May 2023: 57 participants from 26 ASEAN Entities and Centres. The Forum was distinguished by interface with Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, marking SG Dr. Kao first direct engagement with ASEAN Entities.
• The evolving tradition continued at the 8th Forum of Entities on 14 May 2024, convened under Lao PDR’s 2024 ASEAN chairmanship. The Forum, formally inaugurated by the Secretary-General, strengthened collaboration among ASEAN Entities and Centres by facilitating dialogue, partnership opportunities, and joint initiatives.
• Looking ahead, the 9th Forum of Entities was held on 18 June 2025 and opened by the ASEAN Secretary-General. This was the first forum to feature three eminent high-level speakers sharing perspectives on regional priorities, and the first to engage substantively on the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
• 10th Forum of Entities, 12–13 May 2026: A milestone 10th edition. The Forum convenes for the first time over two days, with ASEAN Entities and Centres serving as co-organisers of accompanying side events, and the Forum is opened to the public in the spirit of broader community outreach.

Key Themes and Milestones

Over more than ten years, beginning in 2017, the Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN has evolved through a sequence of defining themes and landmark moments. Each milestone has reinforced the role of ASEAN Entities as essential partners in the region’s path toward integration.

• Dialogue with the Secretary-General: A hallmark of the Forum, this interface provides ASEAN Entities with direct access to ASEAN’s principal executive. As a result, it enables substantive exchanges on pressing regional matters.
• In the face of evolving challenges, adaptability emerged when the 4th and 5th Forums were convened fully online in response to the global health crisis. This adaptation underscored the Forum’s resilience and commitment to continuity.
• The Forum continued to innovate by fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration. It has consistently served as a catalyst for deeper collaboration amongst ASEAN Entities and Centres. The 8th Forum, for example, introduced a structured speed-networking session, creating space for entities to identify and develop concrete areas of partnership.
• Building on collaborative efforts, engagement with the CPR and ASEAN chairmanship priorities became another focal point in 3^rd ASEAN Entities Forum. Since its inception, the Forum has provided a regular platform for the Committee of Permanent Representatives to share the priorities of the incumbent chairmanship each year and to encourage ASEAN Entities to align their respective efforts with the region’s annual agenda and overarching goals.
• High-level dialogue on regional priorities: The 9th Forum, featuring eminent ministerial-level speakers offering perspectives on the region’s most consequential challenges and opportunities, enriches the deliberations.
• Most recently, the evolution of the Forum saw ASEAN Entities and Centres assuming active roles as co-organisers, starting from the 10th Forum onwards. With the Forum also extended to the public, this shift marks a meaningful step towards broader community engagement and greater public awareness of ASEAN’s work and mission.