Morocco Hosts First-Ever ASEAN Bazaar and Cultural Festival in Rabat

Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Six Southeast Asian embassies in Morocco have jointly organized the country’s first ASEAN Bazaar and Cultural Festival, marking a milestone in cultural exchange and partnership between the two regions.

Led by the Royal Thai Embassy in collaboration with the embassies of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the three-day event runs from August 9 to 11 in Rabat. It coincides with the celebration of ASEAN’s 58th anniversary and aims to strengthen the organization’s sectoral dialogue partnership with Morocco, established in 2023.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional bloc comprising ten member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The organization promotes political, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation across Southeast Asia.

The festival offers Moroccan visitors an opportunity to experience authentic Southeast Asian culture through traditional performances, handicrafts, and cuisine from participating countries — all at accessible prices. Organizers described the event as the first time ASEAN embassies have jointly hosted such a celebration in Morocco.

During the inauguration ceremony, Thailand’s Ambassador to Morocco, Fabio Chinda, highlighted the significance of the occasion, stating, “Today we celebrate the 58th anniversary of the ASEAN foundation, and we have the flag-raising ceremony, which we do every year. This marks the symbol of friendship between Thailand and Morocco, hoping this friendship will last long and stable.”

The ambassador’s wife, Maneevarong Chinda, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, noting, “This is the first time we’ve organized an ASEAN Cultural Food Festival here in Rabat. Six ASEAN countries have come together to feature their authentic cuisine and traditional products. I hope everyone can join and enjoy today — maybe next year we can organize it again.”

Malaysia’s Ambassador to Morocco, Dato’ Shahabudeen Adam Shah, voiced his pride in the growing Morocco–ASEAN relationship, stating, “We are proud to be here and we are proud to be having very close cordial bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Morocco. We are really looking forward to further enhancing our cooperation not only bilaterally between Malaysia and Morocco but also between ASEAN and Morocco in the future.”

Vietnam’s Ambassador to Morocco, Le Kim Quy, noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of her country’s ASEAN membership, emphasizing the importance of the regional bloc’s ties with Morocco.

The festival, hosted at the Thai Embassy, is seen as a unique cultural bridge between Southeast Asia and Morocco, providing Moroccan audiences with their first comprehensive ASEAN cultural experience.