Jakarta, mataberita.net — Come On Join Yaaa! From Medan, North Sumatra, a new regional platform seeks to connect governments, business leaders and communication professionals in shaping a more trusted, competitive and sustainable ASEAN. Yaaa, a new regional platform is taking shape in Southeast Asia as the ASEAN Public Communication & Reputation Forum (APCR) officially launched its digital platform on Thursday (01/10/2026), marking a significant step toward building a more integrated ecosystem connecting public policy, business, strategic communication and regional reputation.
More than a conventional annual conference, APCR is envisioned as a long-term regional movement designed to foster meaningful collaboration, strengthen institutional trust and generate tangible impact across ASEAN.
The forum has established Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, as its permanent home and annual host city, positioning the city as a potential regional meeting point where governments, business leaders, investors, communication professionals and other strategic stakeholders can exchange ideas, develop partnerships and explore opportunities emerging across Southeast Asia. The inaugural APCR Forum is scheduled to take place in Medan on December 2–4, 2026.
At a time when Southeast Asia is experiencing profound economic, technological and geopolitical transformation, strategic communication is increasingly moving beyond its traditional supporting role. It has become a critical institutional asset—shaping public confidence, influencing investment decisions, strengthening corporate reputation and determining how policies are understood and translated into meaningful outcomes.
APCR seeks to respond to this changing landscape by creating a platform capable of connecting government policy, corporate objectives and public expectations within a common regional framework.
From Annual Forum to a Year-Round Regional Movement. Asmono Wikan as Initiator of APCR and Chief Executive Officer of PR Indonesia, emphasized that the forum has been deliberately designed to transcend the conventional concept of a one-off event. “APCR is deliberately designed as a long-term ecosystem, rather than simply an annual conference. While Medan, North Sumatra, will proudly serve as our permanent anchor and host city for the annual gathering, the activities and impact of this movement will continue throughout the year across the region,” he said.
The vision reflects a broader understanding of how reputation and communication operate in an increasingly interconnected world. Governments and businesses today are not assessed solely by their policies, products or financial performance, but also by the quality of their engagement with society, stakeholders and the wider public. For that reason, the ability to communicate with clarity, credibility and strategic purpose has become increasingly inseparable from institutional performance.
“Communication has become the lifeblood of virtually every sector of society, including public policy and business. We firmly believe that through effective and well-governed communication, both policy outcomes and business performance can achieve greater impact—more measurable, more sustainable and more meaningful for society,” Asmono added.
Positioning Medan as a Regional Meeting Point. The decision to establish Medan as APCR’s permanent host city also carries strategic significance. As one of Indonesia’s major metropolitan and economic centres, Medan occupies a distinctive position within the regional landscape. Its geographical proximity to the Malacca Strait and its historical connections with the wider Southeast Asian region provide a compelling foundation for the city to strengthen its role as a gateway for regional dialogue, business interaction and cross-border collaboration.
Through APCR, Medan is expected not merely to host an annual gathering, but to evolve as a living platform for regional exchange, partnership and reputation-building. The forum’s long-term ambition is to create an environment where ideas can move beyond conference rooms—translating dialogue into collaboration, collaboration into initiatives, and initiatives into measurable regional impact.
An Invitation to ASEAN’s Strategic Leaders. APCR welcomes government leaders and institutions, business executives, investors, public relations and corporate communication professionals, policymakers, academics, media practitioners and other strategic stakeholders from across Southeast Asia to become part of this emerging regional ecosystem. Participation in APCR is intended to provide more than access to a conference.
It offers an opportunity to engage with a growing network of leaders and institutions seeking to shape the future of public communication, business reputation and regional cooperation. For governments, the forum provides an avenue to strengthen public communication and institutional trust. For businesses and investors, it creates opportunities to understand emerging regional dynamics, build strategic relationships and explore new areas of collaboration.
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For communication professionals, it provides a platform to exchange knowledge, strengthen professional networks and contribute to the evolution of communication practices across ASEAN. In this context, APCR aspires to become a meeting ground where policy meets business, reputation meets investment, and communication meets regional transformation. Further information regarding the forum’s programmes, registration and partnership opportunities is available through the newly launched official website : APCR Official Website (http://apcrforum.com).
The journey begins in Medan. The conversation belongs to ASEAN. And the opportunity is regional. About ASEAN Public Communication & Reputation Forum (APCR) The ASEAN Public Communication & Reputation Forum (APCR) is a regional platform dedicated to connecting public policy, business and strategic communication across Southeast Asia.
Based in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, as its permanent annual host city, APCR is envisioned as a dynamic, year-round ecosystem that advances the quality of public communication, strengthens institutional and corporate reputation, encourages cross-sector collaboration and contributes to a more resilient and competitive ASEAN region.
Through dialogue, knowledge exchange, strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives, APCR seeks to build a stronger regional foundation where trusted leadership, strong institutions and sustainable reputation can support ASEAN’s continued growth and global competitiveness.
