The Sustainability Expo (SX) 2025, the largest sustainability event in ASEAN, marked its sixth consecutive year. Under the theme “Sufficiency for Sustainability,” the event is inspired by the first royal command of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua to “continue, maintain and extend for the benefit and happiness of the people” and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) of His Late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. The Expo also follows the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) to create a collaborative platform for real action and collective transformation. The event is a joint initiative among six leading organizations championing sustainability at the global level: ThaiBev, Charoen Pokphand Group, Frasers Property (Thailand), PTT, SCG, and Thai Union Group.

SX2025 brought together over 800 global experts and more than 280 partner organizations, including government agencies, private enterprises, civil society groups, academic institutions, embassies, and international organizations. The event showcased knowledge exchange, innovations, technologies, and solutions to inspire behavioral changes and drive tangible saction in the “Decade of Action.” This year, SX2025 was honored to be a Host Partner of Enactus World Cup 2025 Presented by ThaiBev. This global competition platform convenes young changemakers from around the world to develop impactful projects through innovation, sustainable development and responsible leadership. Organized by Enactus Global, with support from the Rakkaew Foundation and ThaiBev, this marks the first time Thailand has hosted the event.

The competition gathered top student social enterprise teams from 32 countries. Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) Award was also presented for the first time to the team demonstrating outstanding contributions in advancing the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for social impact—an annual recognition that will continue until 2030. The event attracted widespread attention from the business sector, academia, international organizations, and the media, highlighting Thailand’s growing role as a regional leader in sustainability and innovation.

In addition, as a regional platform for sustainability collaboration, SX2025 expanded its Business-to-Business (B2B) events to strengthen cross-border partnerships for a more balanced and sustainable future. Government agencies, international organizations, industry representatives, and experts from various countries came together to exchange perspectives and explore future directions, fostering meaningful collaboration and shared commitment. A notable example was Thailand 2050: Climate and Water Futures, hosted by the World Bank Group, which presented pathways for Thailand to enhance climate resilience and water security by 2050. The SEP Inspiration Zone further reflected this global engagement through showcases from 14 international organizations, embassies, and agencies, presenting diverse approaches to sustainability—from policy and innovation to technology and best practices—reinforcing that sustainable development relies on collective global action and the exchange of knowledge across borders.

C asean Forum serves as a regional platform for knowledge exchange among leaders and experts across ASEAN, aimed at driving a sustainable future for the region. Held under the theme “Future of ASEAN: Empowering Growth Amid Geoeconomic Tensions,” this year’s forum united business sectors, government, and civil society to explore collective solutions to emerging environmental, economic, and geopolitical challenges. Among the highlights was the panel discussion on “ASEAN’s Resilience: Challenges and Opportunities.” The discussion addressed critical topics on enhancing ASEAN’s competitiveness and workforce readiness, advancing green growth and sustainable economies, and the financial sector’s role in supporting the sustainability transition.

In addition, a series of Insight Talks on “Empowering ASEAN’s Future: Real-World Insights,” brought together regional experts from various fields to share their practical examples that are shaping ASEAN’s sustainable future—ranging from sustainable seafood supply chains and community-driven social innovation to agritech solutions that help address climate challenges.

C asean Forum 2025 is therefore more than just a stage for dialogue—it is a catalyst for ASEAN collaboration, igniting collective action toward a resilient, secure, and sustainable future through shared knowledge, innovation, and partnerships.

C asean hosted an exclusive concert under the theme “A Decade of Harmony, A Journey to Expo 2025” as part of the ASEAN Week celebration on 2 August 2025, in Bangkok. The event marked the 10th anniversary of C asean Consonant, ASEAN’s one and only traditional music ensemble, celebrating a decade of uniting the region through the universal language of music. This special showcase was held ahead of the ensemble’s participation at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, where they were invited by the ASEAN Secretariat to perform in commemoration of ASEAN’s 58th anniversary.

The performance was honored by the presence of H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, who delivered a video message from the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, praising the ensemble’s contribution to fostering unity and cultural exchange through music.

H.E. Mrs. Millicent Cruz-Paredes, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Thailand, and H.E. Mr. Rachmat Budiman, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Thailand, also graciously joined the ensemble as guest singers, which beautifully embodied the ASEAN as One spirit.

The concert celebrated unity in diversity, showcasing the harmonious blend of musical traditions and the shared cultural identity of ASEAN. It also aimed to inspire younger generations to appreciate and take pride in their cultural heritage as the region moves forward toward a harmonious future.

C asean Consonant was officially invited and supported by the ASEAN Secretariat to represent and promote ASEAN culture at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, in celebration of 58th ASEAN Day on 8 August, 2025. The performance showcased ASEAN’s cultural identity and unity to a global audience.

The performance was attended by distinguished guests including representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, the government of Japan, delegates from all ASEAN Member States, and members of the press. In addition to the main performance, C asean Consonant also held special showcases at the pavilions of several ASEAN countries—Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam—presenting traditional music from across Southeast Asia. Alongside these live showcases, the online edutainment series “Common Cultural Heritage in ASEAN,” produced by C asean Consonant, was screened throughout the show period of the Expo 2025 at the ASEAN Pavilion.

The Win Win WAR program is a social enterprise incubator that empowers entrepreneurs to address social and environmental challenges through sustainable business models. Its two flagship programs—Win Win WAR Thailand and Win Win WAR OTOP Junior—are more than just TV reality shows, but also serve as platforms that strengthen Thailand’s social enterprise ecosystem by supporting both entrepreneurs and young changemakers, drawing over 700 applications and more than 4 million online views this year. The Win Win WAR Thailand Season 7 winner, Mr. Korakot Aromdee, received a 2,000,000 Baht prize for transforming bamboo into world-class art inspired by traditional Phetchaburi basketry, generating sustainable income for over 400 artisans and supporting grassroots economic growth. Win Win WAR OTOP Junior, now in its fourth season, extends this mission to youth aged 9–14 by turning schools into hubs for youth and community development, offering scholarships, field trips, and hands-on incubation activities.

The Win Win WAR OTOP Junior Season 4 winner, the “Ling Jor Pam Jiew” team from Princess Chulabhorn Science High School, Lopburi, was awarded a 200,000-Baht scholarship and an overseas innovation trip for turning Wolffia into a high-protein rice-seasoning product that generates sustainable income for the school and local community. Their work demonstrates how young innovators can transform local wisdom into sustainable opportunity. Together, these two programs highlight the power of creativity and innovation across generations in strengthening communities, preserving culture, and driving inclusive economic growth.

C asean Vietnam, launched in 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam as C asean’s first international branch, continues the mission to connect ASEAN communities across three key pillars: Business & Sustainability, Leadership & Talent Development, and Arts & Culture. In collaboration with public and private sectors, C asean Vietnam has hosted a wide range of thematic group sharing events, workshops, performances, and social responsibility activities from discussions on sustainable practices and technology-enabled learning initiatives to artistic and cultural programs. For example, C asean Vietnam equips communities with digital tools and essential skills, from AI and Microsoft Copilot to public speaking, through a blend of theory and hands-on training. It also brings together experts and policymakers through a series of C asean Vietnam Group Sharing events to exchange best practices on sustainability and address environmental and economic issues. Additionally, Trash to Treasure Vietnam engages students in transforming recycled materials into creative works that promote sustainable living, while the ASEAN SX Photo Contest, which also attract participants in Vietnam, showcases sustainability-themed photography, providing a platform for creators across the region to deliver their messages through images.

Beyond the highlighted programs, C asean continues to expand its regional presence through youth-focused initiatives and cross-border partnerships that strengthened ASEAN connectivity. In 2025, C asean hosted two major Youth Speech Contests—the ASEAN Youth Speech Contest and the SX Youth Speech Contest—which engaged more than 1,200 participants across ASEAN and provided a platform for young people to present ideas on regional cooperation, climate resilience, social development, and sustainable growth. These initiatives reinforced the importance of strengthening youth capacities in communication, public speaking, analytical thinking, and cross-border collaboration. C asean also deepened international youth engagement through partnerships with the ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO) and the ASEAN Association–Thailand to deliver the ASEAN Youth Exchange 2025, enhancing youth digital literacy, intercultural understanding, and innovation for Society 5.0. C asean further deepened international youth engagement through partnerships with AYO on the Green Innovator Academy Thailand, bringing together youth from ASEAN, Japan, and China to develop sustainability knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and green innovation collaboration. Together, these efforts demonstrate C asean’s commitment to empowering the next generation of regional changemakers and advancing sustainable development across ASEAN and beyond.

C asean also drive regional collaboration in arts and culture. In 2025, the ASEAN Artist Residency Programme (AARP), initiated by the ASEAN Secretariat since 2019 with support from ThaiBev, selected Ms. Souphalak Phongsavath, an artist from Lao PDR, to create artwork at Kansai University (Senriyama Campus) and conduct workshops both at the University and the ASEAN Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

The artwork was subsequently handed over and permanently displayed at the ASEAN Secretariat’s Art Gallery in Jakarta, Indonesia. This program demonstrates how art can foster mutual understanding and regional unity. Additionally, the SX Trash to Treasure Art and Design Contest 2025, now in its sixth edition, has been engaging youth in both Thailand and Vietnam since its expansion in 2023. Under the theme “Water of Life,” the contest provided a platform for young artists from both countries to create artwork from waste and recycled materials in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) forms. The finalist artworks were showcased at Sustainability Expo 2025 to present diverse perspectives on sustainability issues and reinforce the role of art as a universal language that promotes shared environmental awareness.