The next chapter of the Asean Information and Communication Technology (ICT) masterplan should focus on making the sub-region a world centre for ICT, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha joins ICT ministers and delegates from Asean member-countries as they take a selfie at the 14th Asean Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting in Bangkok yesterday. Gen Prayut presided over the event. Apichart Jinakul
Gen Prayut was speaking in his opening address to the 14th Asean Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting (Telmin) yesterday.
The first Asean ICT masterplan, adopted in 2011, is due to end in December 2015 and the second one is currently being drafted to take place after the launch of the Asean Economic Community later this year.
ICT ministers and delegates from Asean member-countries — as well as representatives from the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and Japan — gathered in Bangkok to discuss their plans for the future. The meeting ends today.
The first phase of the ICT masterplan was aimed at coordinating investment in ICT infrastructure to foster economic growth.
The second chapter of the masterplan should focus on increasing cooperation between people, addressing and reducing hardship and enhancing economic and technological knowledge, Gen Prayut said.
The prime minister said ICT will have a positive impact on the region's economy, but technology should also be used to increase international trade opportunities.
Gen Prayut said he hoped broadband users will soon be provided with internet access across countries.
"Telecommunication technologies will help maximise economic profits, especially in cross-border trade," he said.
Gen Prayut also said increased ICT cooperation between Asean member countries will help fight cyber-crime and increase human security, citing online registration of migrant workers as an example.
He said he wished to open new channels of communication between Asean leaders, especially in the case of regional turmoil or natural disasters befalling the region.
Singapore's ICT Minister Yaacob Ibrahim declared the first chapter of the masterplan "a success".