30 July 2010 - Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Jesus I. Yabes took over the reins of the ASEAN Islamabad Committee (AIC) from outgoing Chairman, Ambassador of Myanmar U Tin Oo.
The simple turnover ceremony was held at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on July 6. The event was attended by the Ambassadors of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.In his first address as AIC Chairman, Ambassador Yabes expressed his gratitude to the other ASEAN Heads of Mission for their confidence in him.
He also pledged to work for the enhancement of relations among the ASEAN Missions in Pakistan and with the host government.
The outgoing Chairman, Ambassador U Tin Oo, thanked his ASEAN colleagues for the support and cooperation extended to him during his tenure as AIC Chairman, and requested them to extend the same level of support and cooperation to Ambassador Yabes whose tenure ends on December 31.
In Pakistan, ASEAN is represented by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Singapore has a Trade Office in Karachi, but not a full mission.
The AIC was established with the Inaugural Meeting of the Establishment of ASEAN-Pakistan Sectoral Dialogue on 5-7 November 1997 in Islamabad.
Since its founding, the AIC has been engaged in several activities designed to strengthen camaraderie among the ASEAN Missions in Pakistan, and to foster closer relations between the ASEAN and Pakistan.
Last June 27-29, an AIC delegation visited Karachi to meet with the Governor and Chief Minister of the Sindh Province, the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, and the officers and members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
