Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha attended the 4th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) and associated ASEAN Dialogue and Development Partners meetings with China, India, Japan, South Korea, United States, and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on February 1-2 in Singapore.
Themed ‘Building an Inclusive and Trusted Digital Ecosystem’, the meeting was chaired by Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo.
The meeting’s discussion centred on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, strategies to combat scams and the imperative to enhance cybersecurity measures.
According to the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), the meeting endorsed the ASEAN Digital Senior Official Meetings (ADGSOM)-ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators’ Council (ATRC) 2024 work plan among which two projects are being led by the Sultanate – ‘Govstack initiative ASEAN’ and ‘Established ASEAN Internet Exchange Network’.
The ADGMIN also endorsed the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, which sets out ASEAN’s approach towards governing and leveraging the power of AI; the ASEAN Regional CERT Financial Model that allows for the operationalisation of the ASEAN Regional CERT, a key initiative under the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2021-2025; and reaffirmed the importance of enhancing a secure, diverse and resilient digital infrastructure within ASEAN.
The meeting also recognised the progress made on implementing the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 (ADM 2025) and encouraged ASEAN member states to execute the recommendations outlined in the ADM 2025 Mid Term Review at further strengthening regional digital inclusion and connectivity efforts and build a trusted digital ecosystem.
In exchanging views on development in the digital sector within ASEAN, Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary shared Brunei’s key initiatives – digital identity, the digital payment hub and the national information hub.
The minister also addressed the risks of cyber threats and online scams in the Sultanate’s landscape.
Recognising the transnational nature of these cyber threats and online scams, Brunei welcomes the establishment of an ‘ASEAN Working Group on Anti-Online Scam’ to allow ASEAN member states to collectively combat the issue through information sharing and coordinated enforcement.
The working group is scheduled to meet inaugurally during the ADGSOM-ATRC Leaders Retreat next month in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Prior to the ADGMIN meeting, senior official members of ASEAN member states attended the 4th ADGSOM from January 30-31.
The Sultanate was led by Deputy Permanent Secretary (Infocommunications) at the MTIC Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abdul Karim as ADGSOM leader of Brunei.
Chief Executive of Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar and senior officers from the MTIC and AITI were also present. – James Kon
