KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 — The inaugural Asean Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN1) to be hosted by Malaysia in January 2021 will focus on strengthening Asean member states’ digital ecosystem in facing the post-Covid-19 era.
The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia’s (KKMM) International Division undersecretary Mano Verabathran said the Asean region had witnessed tremendous growth in the digital ecosystem including in e-commerce since the Covid-19 pandemic started early this year.
However, the member states are aware that the cybersecurity and personal data protection aspect has to be realigned in tandem with the growth of the digital ecosytem.
“ADGMIN1 will enable exchange of views and policies for telecommunication industries in the Southeast Asian region to learn new things in order to move forward,” Mano said when interviewed by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)’s TraxxFM radio station.
The meeting, to be chaired by Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, will be held via teleconference on January 21 and 22.
Mano noted that digitalisation is a catalyst for growth now and ADGMIN1 will set goals to create smart digitalised citizens in the Asean region.
Asked on the ADGMIN1 logo which features a five-petal hibiscus, the national flower, he said, each petal has flags of two Asean member states, representing all the 10 flags on the petals. The flower pistil that appears like a fibre optic cable symbolises sustainable digital connectivity between member countries.
Mano said Malaysia has experience in hosting telecommunications meetings with the first almost two decades ago when the first Asean Telecommunications Ministers Meeting (Telmin) was held in July 2001 in Kuala Lumpur.
He said besides the 10 Asean member states, ADGMIN1 will also involve Asean dialogue partners including Japan, China, the European Union, South Korea and the International Telecommunication Union.
Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
— Bernama
