ASEAN launches contest for new logo

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is holding a US$10,000 competition to come up with a new emblem.

The ASEAN secretariat announced yesterday that, apart from taking account of new member Vietnam, the design must also take allow for the fact that ASEAN will eventually consist of 10 countries.

A cash prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the winner, whose design must be, not merely "functional," but must also reflect the spirit and cohesiveness of the regional grouping, the secretariat said.

ASEAN was established in 1967, consisting initially of staunch anti-communist states Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei became a member in 1984 after it gained independence from Great Britain. Vietnam joined last July, becoming the first communist country in ASEAN.

The current emblem depicts six-stalks of rice, representing the association's earlier membership of six countries. With the entrance of Vietnam, ASEAN ministers agreed, during a meeting Brunei last month, that a new emblem would be designed in light of both the recent membership change and the association's expected further growth in membership.

In its statement, the ASEAN secretariat said the new emblem "should reflect the dynamic and progressive nature of ASEAN."

The emblem should also be easy to reproduce, since the winning design will be displayed on flags, letterheads and publications.

All citizens and organizations of ASEAN are eligible to participate and are allowed to send more than one entry. The designs for the competition must measure 20x25 centimeters and must be mounted on a 25x30 centimeter piece of cardboard.

All entries should be submitted to the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta by Oct. 9, 1995.(mds)