Asian Media Information and Communication Center (AMIC) Collaborates with Padjadjaran University to Hold 29th AMIC Annual Conference

The AMIC Annual Conference is an annual event organized by the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC). This year, Universitas Padjadjaran, in this case the Faculty of Communication Sciences (FIKOM) collaborated with AMIC to organize the 29th AMIC Annual Conference. This year’s theme was “Talk ASAP: Africa Asia Pacific Dialogue on Communication Issues”. The 29th AMIC Annual Conference was held from September 28th to 30th, 2023 at the Savoy Homann Hotel, Jl. Asia Africa, Bandung, Indonesia. “Talk ASAP: Africa Asia Pacific Dialogue on Communication Issues” will serve as a platform for an updated knowledge sharing and peer learning mechanism, i.e. to share experiences, perspectives, ideas and lessons, tools, and technologies and to provide opportunities for intra-regional, inter-regional, and intercontinental cooperation.

The series of AMIC Annual Conference activities are Day 1 – 28 September 2023: Opening Program, Awarding: 2022 AMIC Asia Communication Award, Plenary Session 1, Plenary Session 2, and Parallel Sessions. Day 2 – September 29, 2023: Plenary Session 3, Plenary Session 4, Parallel Sessions, Special Sessions: Asian Journal of Communication and Media Asia, Plenary Session 5, Parallel Sessions, and AMIC General Assembly of Members. Day 3 – September 30, 2023: Plenary Session 6, Inaugural Lecture of the Center for African Studies of Padjadjaran University, Introduction of the Center for Asian-African Studies, Parallel Sessions, Plenary Session 7, Parallel Sessions, Closing Ceremony, Community Activities, and Awards Ceremony. Day 4 – October 1, 2023 (optional): Tour of Gedung Merdeka (Asian-African Conference Museum)

The keynote speaker of the 29th AMIC Annual Conference was Dr. Yoichi Mine, Executive Director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Dr. Yoichi Mine is also the author of the book “Connecting Africa and Asia as a Benign Community”. Besides the main speaker, there were also panel speakers, namely, Molefi Kete Asante, Dr. Yoshitaka Mike, Prof. Dr. Phil. Hermin Indah Wahyuni, S.IP., M.Si., Dr. Atwar Bajari, M.Si., Dr. Fernando Paragas, Ms. Ana Lomtadze, Dr. Ronny Adhikarya, Dr. Chandrabhanu Pattanayak, Dr. Samuel Mudavanhu, Prof. Deddy Mulyana, M.A., Ph.D., Dr. Herlina Agustin, Dr. Ibrahim Hegazy, Dr. Mor Seck, Prof. Danilo Arana Arao, Mr. Laxman Datt Pant, Dr. Eni Maryani, M.Si., Dr. Jing Yin, Dr. Hlamalani Ngwenya, and Dr. Augustus Caesar Latosa.

The agenda on the first day was the opening program, the 2022 AMIC Comunication Award, as well as plenary sessions and parallel sessions. The conference was attended by more than 200 participants from 14 countries namely Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, New Zealand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Bangladesh, and Australia.

The first speech was delivered by Dr. Crispin C. Maslog who is the AMIC representative. Dr. Crispin stated, “Now not only Asian nations are engaged in communication, but African nations have also begun to move. Hopefully, after this conference, communication science will grow not only in Asia but also in Africa”. Furthermore, remarks were delivered by Dr. Rowena C. Reyes as Vice President and Corporate Affairs of Far Eastern University Philippines, Rector of Universitas Padjadjaran, Prof. Dr. Rina Indiastuti, S.E., MSIE. and the Deputy of West Java Provincial Government, Dr. Hening Widiatmoko, M.A. The first day of AMIC’s 29th Annual Conference was symbolically opened with the beating of the gong by Mr. Nezar, Dr. Crispin, Prof. Rina, Dr. Rowena, and Dr. Hening. After the event was symbolically opened, a traditional dance performance followed.

The next speech was delivered by Dr. Yoichi Mine through video recording. He is the Executive Director of JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute followed by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Communication and Information of the Republic of Indonesia, Nezar Patria, S.Fil., M.Sc., M.B.A. Then an overview of the conference, read by Mr. Ramon R. Tuazon, Secretary of AMIC. Dr. Ronny Adhikarya is the recipient of the 2022 AMIC Asia Communication award.

Mr. Ramon, the Secretary General of AMIC gave a response to this conference, he stated, “hopefully this conference can be a kick off for many collaborations between Asian and African nations, such as student exchange, collaborative research, and joint publications. In addition, another important issue at the conference was press freedom”.

Rector of Unpad, Prof. Dr. Rina Indiastuti, S.E., MSIE. stated, “Universities must help the government, because in the future it will be increasingly difficult, universities should not provide recommendations based on feelings, but must be based on research, scientifically provide advice, and always conduct studies”. The government hopes that people must be digitally literate, not just literate, but also wise”.

The Deputy Minister of the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information also highly appreciated the organization of the AMIC conference, which this year collaborated with Padjadjaran University. Mr. Nezar stated, “We highly appreciate the organization of the 29th AMIC, hopefully the results can be applied to the wider public”. In addition, Mr. Nezar also conveyed the importance of the role of communication academics in delivering communication messages and conducting research that can be useful for government and industry.

Universitas Padjadjaran and AMIC collaborate with the West Java Provincial Government (Pemprov Jabar), the Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (Bakti), the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo), and the Indonesian Communication Scholars Association (ISKI). In addition, Divia TV is also a media partner of the 29th AMIC Annual Conference. Visit the official website of the AMIC Annual Conference at www.amic.asia. (RA/RZ)