Two landmark anniversaries for two improbable countries

August 2015 is hosting two important anniversaries for Southeast Asia's smallest and largest nations - Singapore is turning 50, while Indonesia is marking the 70th anniversary of its Independence.

In many ways, these two countries could not be more different. Firstly, and most obviously, there's the difference in size: Indonesia's total landmass with its estimated 17,500 islands could contain more than 2,500 Singapores. Indonesia's population (the fourth largest worldwide) is nearly 50 times greater than that of Singapore. Economically, they're also vastly different: Singapore is a wealthy, developed city state, while Indonesia is a vast emerging market with huge disparities in wealth. In many ways, comparing Singapore and Indonesia is like comparing apples and oranges, and yet as these two very different neighbours celebrate landmark anniversaries this August, I should it would be worth briefly sharing what I see as some shared characteristics.

SIMILAR AND YET DIFFERENT. PHOTO COURTESY OF: CROSSED-FLAG-PINS.COM

Two Improbable Countries?

Singapore's transformation from colonial backwater with no natural resources to one of the world's preeminent city states and financial hubs is an inspirational and well-documented success story. One only has to compare pictures from the mid-20th century to today's cityscape to appreciate the impressive land reclamation work undertaken in literally building the country. Singapore's 'dare to dream' approach to city-state building has gone on to inspire the likes of Dubai with its own audacious building programme.

The creation of an Indonesian state was also in many ways remarkable. It is impressive that this incredibly diverse archipelago stretching some 3,000 miles with hundreds of ethnic groups, cultures and languages managed to come together to form a nation state with a unifying language (Bahasa Indonesia) and shared set of ideals, embodied in the five principles of Pancasila: 1) belief in one supreme God; 2) just and civilized humanity; 3) the unity of Indonesia; 4) democracy and 5) social justice.

INDONESIA'S COAT OF ARMS: THE GARUDA PANCASILA. The five symbols that constitute indonesia's pancasila ARE: the star (representing god); the unbroken chain of humanity; the banyan tree for unity; the buffalo heAD FOR DEMOCRACY AND FINALLY THE COTTON AND RICE TO REPRESENT SOCIAL JUSTICE. MEANWHILE, THE NATIONAL MOTTO AT THE BOTTOM ("BHINNEKA TUNGGAL IKA") MEANS "UNITY IN DIVERSITY." PICTURE COURTESY OF: GUNAWAN KARNAPRANATA.

Of course it hasn't all been plain sailing: the crisis in Timor at the end of the 20th century and the enduring tensions between West Papua and Jakarta underline the challenges facing Indonesia, and yet beyond language and shared principles, there are strong threads that bind the country together, from the literal threads of Batik clothing, to Padang cuisine which is enjoyed throughout the country.

Both Indonesia and Singapore thrive on the diversity of their peoples and while the two countries are different in so many ways, they are both set to remain major players and influencers in their own way in 21st century Asia.