Deputy Governor Of DKI Rano Karno Proposes ASEAN Secretariat Building To Be Opened To The Public

Illustrations - Personnel of the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) passed in front of the fence of the ASEAN Secretariat building, Jakarta, Thursday (22/4/2021). (DOC. BETWEEN PHOTOS)

JAKARTA - The ASEAN Secretariat Building, which is in South Jakarta, was proposed by Deputy Governor of DKI Rano Karno to open it to the public as a means of learning.

"There is a desire from us so that the ASEAN Secretariat can be opened to the public, because there is a museum there. Our children can learn about how ASEAN is," said Rano after the declaration of Jakarta City's 498th Anniversary in Blok M South Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 24.

Rano admitted that he was an alumni of SMAN 6 Kebayoran Baru had never entered the building because he was said to be closed.

In fact, he continued, the ASEAN Secretariat building could be a potential means to study the development of ASEAN countries.

"I'm here at SMAN 6 here, to be honest I've never been there. Because it's very closed, it means it's not for the public," he said.

Therefore, he hopes that the Blok M Hub project that revitalizes the Blok M area and its surroundings can become a liaison as well as a public space center.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN, HERNARIA Sanggramawijaya Soeprapto added that the ASEAN Secretariat building had hosted it to an international scale.

"The ASEAN Secretariat Building has so far hosted several series of national, regional, and international meetings more than a year ago," said Nararya.

Nararya said the meetings reached 1,600 times with several visits from regional representatives.

Therefore, he expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the DKI Provincial Government which continues to support the sustainable promotion of ASEAN, especially in the Blok M Hub project.

"We are very happy if the ASEAN feel is part of an oriented development in the Blok M transit area," he said.

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government opened the Blok M Hub area, South Jakarta, for 24 hours to welcome the 498th Anniversary of Jakarta with the theme "Jakarta, Global and Cultural City".

Blok M Hub is an area revitalization project around the terminal and Blok M mall which is projected to become a transportation hub and public facilities in the area.

Blok M Hub will also be prepared as a center for public activities, including the development of culinary areas and ASEAN buildings which will be part of Jakarta's new face.

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will revitalize the Blok M area and is targeted for completion in October 2025.