KUALA LUMPUR: Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo will attend the 5th Asean Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN) from Jan 15 to 17 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Key discussions will revolve around artificial intelligence (AI) governance, cross-border privacy frameworks, cybersecurity and the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (Defa).
"As Asean Chair, Malaysia is poised to spearhead initiatives that drive innovation, strengthen digital trust, and create a more inclusive digital economy for the region," said the ministry in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 15).
During the meeting, Gobind will hold bilateral discussions with Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Jantararuangtong; Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn and US-Asean Business Council senior vice president Brian McFeeters.
Gobind will also meet with Asean member states, dialogue and development partners from Indonesia, China, Japan, South Korea and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as well as participate in the ADGMIN dialogue sessions with key partners, including China, Japan, Republic of Korea, the United States and India.
The ministry noted Gobind would emphasise Malaysia's leadership in shaping the bloc's digital future as the nation assumes the Asean Chair in 2025.
"This meeting is crucial for setting the foundation to strengthen Asean's digital ecosystem and prepare for an AI-driven future," he said, highlighting Malaysia's role in driving discussions on cybersecurity, AI safety, and data centre infrastructure.
The ADGMIN, themed "Secure, Innovative, Inclusive: Shaping Asean's Digital Future," aligns with Malaysia's strategic vision to position itself as a regional leader in the digital economy.
"The minister noted the nation's commitment to enhancing infrastructure, fostering cyber resilience and cultivating local talent, all essential to achieving a robust digital ecosystem."
It also said that Malaysia's agenda for Asean 2025 focuses on five key areas:
- Advancing governance, research and applications of AI and big data;
- Strengthening resilience and cross-border collaboration to address cybersecurity threats; Accelerating the development of sustainable, tech-enabled urban ecosystems in AI cities;
- Enhancing efficiency, transparency and public service delivery through digital innovation under Government Technology (GovTech); and
- Elevating the region's presence in gaming, animation and digital arts under digital creativity.
To drive progress in these areas, the ministry said Malaysia will host nine major events in
2025, including the Malaysia AI Summit in June, Asean 5G & IoT Security Summit (August), Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur (September), SmartGov Summit (October) and Level Up KL | Play 2025 (November).
These platforms aim to attract investments, foster innovation, and build networks across the region. – Bernama
