1. Brunei Darussalam, through the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), participated in the 2nd ASEAN Digital Senior Officials' Meeting and ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators' Council (ADGSOM-ATRC) Leaders' Retreat 2025, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 5 to 9 October 2025.
2. Representing Brunei Darussalam was Yang Mulia Awang Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abdul Karim, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Infocommunications), MTIC, as the ADGSOM Leader for Brunei Darussalam; and Awang Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar, Chief Executive, Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), as the ATRC Leader of Brunei Darussalam, accompanied by senior officials from both MTIC and AITI.
3. The ADGSOM-ATRC Leaders' Retreat serves as a strategic decision-shaping platform for ASEAN digital senior officials and telecommunication regulators. It provides an opportunity to review the progress of the ADGSOM-ATRC Work Plan for the 2025 Work Cycle, deliberate on priority deliverables for endorsement by the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN) in January 2026, and explore proposed collaborative projects for the 2026 Work Cycle.
4. Under the 2025 Work Cycle, Brunei Darussalam is leading two major regional initiatives:
- ASEAN Guidelines on Cloud Adoption for the Public Sector: This initiative supports ASEAN governments in accelerating cloud adoption by addressing issues such as security, governance, and technology standards. The guidelines aim to:
a. Harmonize cloud practices across ASEAN Member States, recognizing varying levels of technological maturity;
b. Enable public sector transformation by improving service delivery, transparency, and operational efficiency;
c. Address data sovereignty, security, and privacy challenges; and
d. Align with other ASEAN initiatives, including the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy and the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap, to build a safe and trusted digital ecosystem.
ii. ASEAN Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Cross-Border Digital Trade (Phase 1 – Framework Recommendation): Developed in collaboration with the World Bank Group, this multi-phase initiative includes:
a. Phase 1: A feasibility study assessing the state of DPI across ASEAN Member States (completed in 2025); and
b. Phase 2: Development of a practical toolkit to help governments, businesses, and communities adopt interoperable DPI for regional digital integration and cross-border digital trade (For completion in 2026).
This initiative supports the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), aiming to foster seamless cross-border data flows and build a robust, interconnected ASEAN digital economy.
5. The Retreat also considers cooperative initiatives with dialogue and development partners to strengthen ASEAN's digital ecosystem. The outcomes of these discussions will help shape regional policy directions and guide future cooperation efforts, which will be elevated for consideration by the ASEAN Digital Ministers in early 2026 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
6. Brunei Darussalam's active role in these initiatives underscores the country's commitment to fostering regional digital integration, enhancing digital trust and resilience, and supporting ASEAN's shared vision for an inclusive and sustainable digital economy under the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and Wawasan Brunei 2035.
Prepared by:
Infocommunications Policy Division,
MTIC
