3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting
Opening remarks
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin
2 February 2024
Good morning, everyone.
It's such a pleasure and an honor to join you in Singapore today for this meeting between ITU and ASEAN Digital Ministers.
My delegation and I would like to thank Singapore for their warm hospitality. Thank you for receiving me at the crack of dawn yesterday! I also thank you and all ASEAN Member States as well as the ASEAN Secretariat for the careful arrangements made to accommodate ITU at this and the ADGSOM (ASEAN Digital Senior Officials' Meeting).
Chair, Excellencies,
We meet at a pivotal moment for our organizations and for digital transformation.
The nearly 700 million people in Southeast Asian countries, like others around the globe, are seeing the world as they knew it change before their eyes.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change are two of the major forces driving this shift, highlighting how interconnected digital progress and tackling these global challenges are.
ASEAN countries are on the frontlines of climate change.
Our continued cooperation is essential, both for reducing the carbon footprint of digital technologies and for harnessing their potential — such as ensuring everyone in the region is protected by early warning systems.
It's one of the many areas identified as priorities in our joint digital workplan, and I look forward to its implementation.
As for artificial intelligence, in just a year, AI has opened new possibilities but also profound questions about our future.
Will AI be the great equalizer? Or will it worsen inequalities?
While AI governance efforts have gained momentum in the last few months, by and large, countries are still in search of answers to these complex issues.
The ASEAN Guide on AI Ethics and Governance, adopted/endorsed just yesterday, is an important step in striking the right balance between risks and benefits — between ensuring the responsible development and deployment of AI without stifling innovation.
ITU has been at the forefront of this conversation, and we're committed to working with all partners in Southeast Asia to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks.
Excellencies,
This moment calls for ambition.
ASEAN is an ambitious partner, as shown by your Digital Masterplan 2025 and your newly adopted/endorsed ASEAN Guide on AI Ethics and Governance.
I'm here to thank you for your leadership and to strengthen our collaboration. We are very appreciative of ADGMIN's support, and ADGSOM's also. Rest assured of ITU's commitment in supporting your development agenda.
As my first international mission of 2024, I can think of no better group than this one to set the tone for our collective endeavors in a year teeming with great responsibilities but also tremendous opportunities in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Thank you, Chair, back to you.
