1. The 4th ASEAN Digital Ministerial Meeting (ADGMIN) was held on 1st – 2nd February 2024, in the Republic of Singapore. Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei Darussalam, attended the 4th ADGMIN and associated ASEAN Dialogue and Development Partners meetings with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, United States of America, and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
2. With the theme "Building an Inclusive and Trusted Digital Ecosystem”, the 4th ADGMIN was chaired by Her Excellency Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information, Republic of Singapore. The meeting’s discussion centered around artificial intelligence (AI) governance, strategies to combat scams, and the imperative to enhance cybersecurity measures. The meeting endorsed the ADGSOM-ATRC 2024 workplan among which two (02) projects are being led by Brunei Darussalam namely ‘Govstack initiative ASEAN’ and ‘Established ASEAN Internet Exchange Network’. The ADGMIN also endorsed the ASEAN Guide on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and Ethics, which sets out ASEAN’s approach towards governing and leveraging the power of AI; the ASEAN Regional CERT Financial Model that allows for the operationalization of the ASEAN Regional CERT, a key initiative under the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2021-2025; and reaffirmed the importance of enhancing a secure, diverse and resilient digital infrastructure within ASEAN. The Meeting also recognised the good progress made on implementing the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 (ADM 2025) and encouraged ASEAN Member States to execute the recommendations outlined in the ADM 2025 Mid Term Review at further strengthening regional digital inclusion and connectivity efforts and build a trusted digital ecosystem.
3. In exchanging views on development in the digital sector within ASEAN, the Minister of Transport and Infocommunications shared on key initiatives from Brunei Darussalam. Namely, Digital Identity, the Digital Payment Hub, and the National Information Hub. The Minister of Transport and Infocommunications also addressed the risks of cyber threats and online scams in Brunei Darussalam's cybersecurity threat landscape.
4. Recognizing the transnational nature of these cyber threats and online scams, Brunei Darussalam welcomes the establishment of an “ASEAN Working Group on Anti-Online Scam” whereby this initiative allows ASEAN Member States to collectively combat this serious issue through information sharing and coordinated enforcement. The working group is scheduled to meet inaugurally during the ADGSOM-ATRC Leaders Retreat next month in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
5. Prior to the 4th ADGMIN Meeting, Senior Official Members of ASEAN Member States attended the 4th ASEAN Digital Senior Official Meetings (ADGSOM) from 30th – 31st January 2024. Brunei Darussalam was led by Yang Mulia Awang Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abdul Karim, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Infocommunications), Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) in his capacity as ADGSOM leader of Brunei Darussalam. Also, in attendance were Yang Mulia Awang Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar, Chief Executive, Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), along with senior officers from MTIC and AITI.
Prepared by
Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications
2nd February 2024
