A symbolic launching ceremony was held at the Royal Chulan Hotel here where all the 10 Asean ministers or their representatives, were invited to place their right palms on a panel dubbed “the circle of solidarity” which have each country’s flag, witnessed by about 500 guests.
The ministers later received the AIM 2015, titled “We’re Stronger When We’re Connected” from Malaysian Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
Sealed as the highlight of the two-day meeting, which ended yesterday, the AIM 2015 charts the development of ICT in the region and harnesses the potential of ICT in establishing an inclusive, vibrant and integrated Asean community.
The AIM 2015 is a comprehensive plan of specific actions and projects with clear targets and timelines in six strategic thrusts, to be implemented in the next five years and beyond, with the aim of delivering four key outcomes.
The four key outcomes include ICT as an engine of growth for Asean member states, recognition for Asean as a global ICT hub, enhanced quality of life for the peoples of Asean and contribution towards Asean integration.
The six strategic thrusts are economic transformation, people empowerment and engagement, innovation, infrastructure development and bridging the digital divide.
The Asean Telecommunication and Information Technology Senior Officials Meeting (Telsom) and the Asean Telecommunications Regulators’ Council (ATRC) were also tasked to take necessary steps to implement the actions and measures embodied in the AIM 2015.
Asean dialogue partners including Japan, South Korea, China and India have been invited to collaborate with Asean in realising the AIM 2015.
In a statement, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Asean integration and the Asean 2015 goals.
The meeting also noted the contribution of ICT to economic growth and social development in Asean and its role as a strategic instrument for achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
The ministers also expressed their countries’ desire to enhance efforts to provide affordable ICT access and increase ICT adoption across Asean as well as to bridge the digital divide and develop ICT skills.
Meanwhile, Asean telecommunication officials have been asked to review the existing ICT cooperation and the available funding sources to ensure timely implementation of the AIM 2015.
At the meeting, the ministers tasked them to come with recommendations for consideration at the next Telmin, to be held in Myanmar at the end of this year.
During the meeting, the ministers outlined the existing areas of cooperation, among others, in the Asean e-commerce database, international mobile data roaming charges and the interoperability framework in Asean projects.
The ministers described the meeting here as marking a critical milestone on the road of Asean cooperation in ICT.
They said that the 10 years of cooperation had yielded meaningful outcomes which contributed to the change in the Asean ICT landscape and led to an influential shift in the way essential services are delivered, from e-health to e-education, e-commerce and e-government.
The statement said the ministers also adopted the 2010-2011 Asean-China ICT Work Plan, thus clearly indicating that both sides needed to actively cooperate in new areas such as ICT applications for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as e-education.
Besides this, the Asean and Japan also adopted the Asean-Japan ICT Work Plan 2011 and the Asean-Japan Collaboration Framework on Information Security.
---
Quelle/Source: The Borneo Post, 15.01.2011
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
