The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has invited Cambodian youths to enter an ASEAN logo design competition with winning designs to be used on ASEAN documents and at the organisation’s events. Cambodia will chair the association in 2022.
“This competition will allow Cambodia to get the best and most suitable hallmark– the work of Cambodian children. A logo designed to reflect an advanced and energetic perspective and respond to the wishes of the ASEAN peoples and the current context alike,” the ministry said.
The competition will help attract attention and focus on ASEAN events as well as the bloc’s importance to Cambodia.
A notice on May 1 said candidates who wish to enter the competition must send at least two logos and explain their meaning to [email protected] from May 1-25. The commission will then assess them.
The commission will select three logos. If there are any questions concerning a submission, the ministry will ask the designer to make revisions by June 3.
All candidates must be Cambodians aged 18-40. They can enter the competition individually or as a group.
The winner will get a 4 million riel ($1,000), while the second and third place will get a million riel each.
Kin Phea, director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia's International Relations Institute, said the competition was to showcase a new creative idea of the meaning of ASEAN as Cambodia is set to host the summit.
However, he hoped that Cambodia would lay out other initiatives for stability and peace in the region as the economic and political environment this year remains uncertain.
“We see big problems when Cambodia chairs ASEAN. First, addressing the post-Covid-19 economic issue is a big one. Second is the South China Sea problem, which remains a tussle. Third is the Myanmar [crisis] which might see no solution this year,” he said.
For Cambodia, the benefit will be as host and to lead the regional bloc and contribute to further supporting ASEAN for stability and peace.
The ministry said the logo’s concept focused on the joint efforts by ASEAN to address problems together. The logo must reflect joint, open and sincere goodwill free from division and discrimination.
It said ASEAN must put the common good first, united as one family to overcome hurdles and push for the ASEAN community where people live together in peace, security, and prosperity.
