ASEAN parade in Chaweng

Last Thursday 7 schools on Koh Samui participated in an ASEAN parade in Chaweng. Six schools were from Bophud and one from Lamai and our daughter was part of the parade.

School students wearing an ASEAN banner

ASEAN was formed 8th August 1967 but it beats me why only 7 schools participated. It was also not very well organized, in my humble opinion, as the children had to walk along the very busy ring road in Chaweng near Tesco Lotus for a while, without any police protection to take care of the busy traffic. Everything went well though.

The parade near Tesco Lotus

ASEAN is a very interesting organization that binds as a geo-political and economical stronghold the countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam together. 

Its aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, protection of regional peace and stability, and opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully

Singapore

ASEAN covers a land area of 4.46 million km², which is 3% of the total land area of Earth, and has a population of approximately 600 million people, which is 8.8% of the world's population. The sea area of ASEAN is about three times larger than its land counterpart. In 2011, its combined nominal GDP had grown to more than US$ 2 trillion. If ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank as the eighth largest economy in the world.

Vietnam

In 2007, ASEAN celebrated its 40th anniversary since its inception, and 30 years of diplomatic relations with the United States. On 26 August 2007, ASEAN stated that it aims to complete all its free trade agreements with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand by 2013, in line with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

This last bit, the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 when borders open for free trade in jobs might proof to be a tough Community, when in my opinion, Thailand will get serious competition on many levels, partly because of the superior English skills of some of the countries that are part of ASEAN. Time will tell.

Cambodia

It was good to see this small parade as a reminder of a big event taking place soon, in 2015 that will affect the whole region and it was good to see our daughter in the parade!

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Camille