ADGMIN1 Looks To Strengthen Cooperation To Develop ASEAN's Digital Ecosystem

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Strengthening cooperation among ASEAN member states towards the development of a digital ecosystem will be the main focus at the first ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN1) which began Thursday. The two-day virtual meeting is chaired by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) in a statement issued after the opening ceremony said the meeting will further expand Malaysia's cooperation with ASEAN Dialogue Partners - Japan, China, European Union, United States, South Korea, India and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - in improving the ICT policy, developing human resources and exploring new technologies. “This will further enhance the ability of all ASEAN states to deal with risks in cyberspace to be seen through the launch of ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 (ADM 2025) on Jan 22,” the statement said. Apart from ADM 2025, the administrative procedures and data transfer methods between ASEAN member states will also be formulated to serve as the main basis in adopting digital transformation - ASEAN Digital Data Governance Framework (ASEAN Digital). Earlier, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin delivered his keynote address virtually during the opening ceremony. Themed “ASEAN: A Digitally Connected Community”, ADGMIN1 is aimed at encouraging the participation of more private sectors to jointly develop quality ICT infrastructure and services as well as enhancing ASEAN competitiveness to support the goals of the ASEAN Community. The virtual meeting serves as a forum for the exchange of views and policies related to the use of spectrum for telecommunication purposes as well as for matters related to the telecommunications industry in the Southeast Asian region. The meeting follows the two-day ASEAN Digital Senior Officials Meeting (ADGSOM), chaired by KKMM secretary-general Mohammad Mentek. ASEAN, founded in 1967, is a regional organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. -- BERNAMA