Jakarta, March 17 (AseanAll) — On March 17, 2025,Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn officially launched the IAI Attachment Programme, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat by welcoming a new batch of Attachment Officers (AOs) from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam (CLMV), and Timor-Leste, for the first time.
Supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), the programme aims to enhance the capacity of government officials from CLMV and Timor-Leste by immersing them in the work of the ASEAN Secretariat.
This year marked a historic milestone with the participation of Timor-Leste for the first time, reflecting ASEAN’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s capacity-building as it prepares for full ASEAN membership.
In his opening remarks, SG Dr. Kao highlighted the importance of the IAI Attachment Programme in strengthening institutional capacities and fostering regional integration. He emphasised that the knowledge and experiences gained through this programme will enable AOs to contribute more effectively to their respective countries. He further expressed his appreciation to the Government of Japan for its long-standing support in narrowing development gaps within ASEAN.
Japan’s Ambassador to ASEAN, Ambassador Kiya Masahiko, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to ASEAN’s integration efforts. He underscored the critical role of human resource development in enhancing ASEAN’s competitiveness and sustainability, reaffirming Japan’s support for inclusive development and capacity building initiatives.
The one-year IAI Attachment Programme provides AOs with first-hand experience in various divisions under the ASEAN Political-Security Community Department, ASEAN Economic Community Department, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of ASEAN processes, policies, and cooperation mechanisms. The initiative is part of the broader IAI Work Plan IV (2021-2025), which seeks to support ASEAN’s goal to narrow the development gaps in the region.
