Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah (Photo: kkmm.gov.my)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The first ASEAN DigitalMinisters Meeting (ADGMIN1) took place virtually on January 21 under the themeof “ASEAN: A Digitally Connected Community”.
Chaired by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia MinisterSaifuddin Abdullah, the two-day meeting seeks to strengthen cooperation amongASEAN member states towards building digital ecosystems as a pillar in thepost-COVID-19 development plan.
In his welcoming speech, Saifuddin said many things remainto be done for ASEAN to become a competitive and integrated digital economicbloc particularly given the pandemic.
The official also acknowledged ASEAN’s achievement in thedigital sphere over the last decade as the testament to how far the region hascome, having been guided by the ASEAN ICT Master Plan 2015 (AIM2015) and theASEAN ICT Master Plan 2020 (AIM2020).
He said while ASEAN countries find a footing in promotingeconomic recovery and transitioning to a new normal, the ASEAN’s DigitalMasterplan 2025 will steer the region through the next five years of digitaldevelopment.
The meeting follows the two-day ASEAN Digital SeniorOfficials Meeting (ADGSOM1)./.
A three-day conference on ASEAN-APO cooperation in enhancing productivity opened in Hanoi on December 9 to raise mutual understanding between ASEAN and the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), towards fulfilling the United Nations sustainable development goals.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Communications and Multimedia announced on December 14 that its Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, will chair the first ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN1) via teleconference from January 21-22, 2021.
Policies and regulations on free flow of data across the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must be realised urgently to further promote digitalisation and its growing participation in the region, according to Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama.
ASEAN needs to set up an anti-fake news task force, while developing a regional guideline and shared platform for prompt information sharing, proposed a Vietnamese official at a seminar held in Jakarta, Indonesia on January 20.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah (Photo: kkmm.gov.my) 
