Asean members discuss ICT development cooperation

The three-day meeting of the 2017 TELSOM-ATRC Joint Working Group and Related Meetings with Dialogue Partners taking place from May 9-11 is attended by the Deputy Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Phavanhna Duangboupha, officials and Asean delegates. 
Officials are discussing related projects and plan to implement the Asean ICT Master Plan 2020. The purpose of the meeting is to review the ongoing TELSOM-ATRC activities for 2017 and discuss the 2018 work plan.
One of the highlights of the meetings is to review the 2018 ICT project proposals from Asean member states, which includes the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications’ projects. The meeting will also update cooperation progress with dialogue partners and discuss potential areas of cooperation in 2018.
The Master Plan on Asean Connectivity 2025 consists of five strategic thrust: sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence, and people mobility.
ICT is one of the key drivers in Asean, where the telecommunication and ICT sectors are developing rapidly. ICT contributes hugely to social and economic development in general, and all sectors of the economy are increasingly adopting and embedding ICT. 
ICT is one of the focus on the Asean Connectivity 2025. To realise the vision, TELSOM/TELMIN created the Asean ICT Master Plan 2020 (AIM2020) to focus on enabling Asean economy-wide transformation. 
In Laos, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications is the focal point for TELSOM/TELMIN and is the leading agency to implement the AIM2020 for Laos in cooperation with other member states. 
The AIM2020 identified strategic thrusts to create a digitally-enabled, innovative, inclusive and integrated Asean community. Creation of a sustainable, integrated digital economy with a safe environment through information security and assurance is part of the plan’s objectives. 
This meeting is important because it is the stage to strengthen Asean cooperation. It is where member states and dialogue partners will discuss and exchange viewpoints on ICT development. The activities and work plans not only involve government, they also include stakeholders, the private sector, and related organisations. 
Examples of such activities and work plans include the national ICT award, Asean ICT award, ICT capacity building, raising awareness activities, and the Lao ICT magazine. 
In the past, Asean has cooperated with dialogue partners and the International Telecommunication Union in the areas of human resources development, knowledge and know-how exchange on ICT, and cooperation in the development of ICT infrastructure and cyber security.
The member states strongly believe that dialogue partners and the International Telecommunication Union will continue to cooperate and strengthen their cooperation through the support of joining the work plan under the AIM2020 towards reaching the goals of the Asean ICT Master Plan 2020 and Asean Connectivity 2025.