ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting

12-Feb-2023: 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting was held

Major Highlights of the 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting:

Theme: "Synergy Towards a Sustainable Digital Future".
Major focus on enhancing India-ASEAN relationship in ICTs.
India highlighted reforms to promote fair competition and increase broadband and telecom connectivity.
Significance of digital transformation for creating an inclusive and equitable society, promoting sustainable development, and empowering citizens through digital means.
Approval of India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023
- Initiatives for capacity building and knowledge sharing in various areas:
  - Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity.
  - IoT and AI in Next Generation Smart Cities.
  - Role of ICTs in implementing digital health and security.

ASEAN regional grouping

Established in 1967.
Five founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.
Chairmanship rotates annually.

Evolution of Bilateral Relations

India introduced ‘Look East Policy’ in 1990s.
It transformed into ‘Act East Policy’ in 2014.
India became ASEAN’s Sectoral Partner in 1992, dialogue Partner in 1996 & Summit-level Partner in 2002.
ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement was signed in 2009.
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement has been signed with Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
India also set up a separate Mission to ASEAN and East Asia Summit in Jakarta in 2015.
ASEAN India Friendship Year was celebrated in 2022 to commemorate the 30 years of the establishment of dialogue relations between ASEAN and India. This led to the elevation of their Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

Other Areas of Engagement

Financial Assistance: ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund, ASEAN-India Green Fund.
Connectivity: India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Kaladan Multimodal Project, Maritime Transportation Agreement, railway connection between New Delhi and Hanoi.

12-Feb-2023: 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting was held

Major Highlights of the 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting:

Theme: "Synergy Towards a Sustainable Digital Future".
Major focus on enhancing India-ASEAN relationship in ICTs.
India highlighted reforms to promote fair competition and increase broadband and telecom connectivity.
Significance of digital transformation for creating an inclusive and equitable society, promoting sustainable development, and empowering citizens through digital means.
Approval of India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023
- Initiatives for capacity building and knowledge sharing in various areas:
  - Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity.
  - IoT and AI in Next Generation Smart Cities.
  - Role of ICTs in implementing digital health and security.

ASEAN regional grouping

Established in 1967.
Five founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.
Chairmanship rotates annually.

Evolution of Bilateral Relations

India introduced ‘Look East Policy’ in 1990s.
It transformed into ‘Act East Policy’ in 2014.
India became ASEAN’s Sectoral Partner in 1992, dialogue Partner in 1996 & Summit-level Partner in 2002.
ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement was signed in 2009.
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement has been signed with Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
India also set up a separate Mission to ASEAN and East Asia Summit in Jakarta in 2015.
ASEAN India Friendship Year was celebrated in 2022 to commemorate the 30 years of the establishment of dialogue relations between ASEAN and India. This led to the elevation of their Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

Other Areas of Engagement

Financial Assistance: ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund, ASEAN-India Green Fund.
Connectivity: India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Kaladan Multimodal Project, Maritime Transportation Agreement, railway connection between New Delhi and Hanoi.

2022

29-Jan-2022: India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022 approved at 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting

The 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting with India held yesterday on a virtual platform. H.E. Shri Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications (MoSC) and H.E. Admiral Tin Aung San, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar co-chaired the meeting.

The ADGMIN is an annual meeting of Telecom Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) countries -Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and dialogue partner countries - Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, UK and US. The meeting discussed and deliberated various matters relevant to strengthening regional digital cooperation in the spirit of digital inclusion and integration.

Addressing the august gathering of Digital Ministers, Shri Devusinh Chauhan emphasized that Information and Communication Technologies enable and strengthen democratic systems and institutions through enhanced engagement between citizens and the state. He added that use of ICTs promote free speech, human rights and the free flow of information besides expanding citizens' opportunities to participate in decision-making process and have potential to transform lives of people living in rural areas.

The Minister recalled vision of our Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to leverage different technological solutions for development of the nation. In his address, Shri Devusinh Chauhan stated that COVID-19 is not only a challenge for the public health system, but it is also, shaking the economic and social orders of the countries. In this scenario, Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have emerged as powerful tools to mitigate the effects of pandemic in different spheres of public life and they are foundations of the global economy.

The Ministers meeting approved the India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022. The workplan includes system for combating the use of stolen and counterfeit mobile handsets, WiFi Access network interface for nationwide public internet, the capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas in the field of Information and Communication Technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Advanced Satellite Communication, Cyber Forensics, etc. The ongoing and proposed projects in ICTs, will strengthen collaboration between India and ASEAN by leveraging complementary strengths of each other.