ASEAN mulls ways to transform into cyber-region<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Senior officials Wednesday began a two-day
\nmeeting on ways to prepare Southeast Asia for the knowledge
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
The meeting will precede the first meeting on Friday of
\ntelecommunications ministers from the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
Talks will focus on developing infrastructure for telecoms and
\ninformation technology in the region, said a senior official at
\nMalaysia's Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry.<\/p>\n
\"As the stage of development varies for ASEAN members, we will
\nsee how we can help weaker countries such as Cambodia, Laos and
\nMyanmar through private-sector initiatives,\" he told AFP.<\/p>\n
Officials will also discuss efforts to create a skilled
\nworkforce to cope with the transition to the knowledge-based era.<\/p>\n
Talks would also center on the digital divide in the region
\nand how to improve the rate of IT literacy, he added.<\/p>\n
ASEAN telecoms senior officials first met in Brunei last
\nOctober.<\/p>\n
A Malaysian delegate said the meeting was likely to discuss a
\nproposed \"mutual recognition agreement\" (MRA) on product
\ncertification. For example, he said products tested in Malaysia
\nand exported to Singapore would not have to be certified again in
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
\"I think everybody will endorse plans for MRA and set a date
\nfor when they are ready to implement this,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to a Malaysian ministry statement, ministers will
\nFriday sign an agreement on ASEAN cooperation in telecoms and IT.<\/p>\n
The document formalizes the establishment of the ASEAN
\ntelecoms ministers and senior officials forums and identifies
\nbroad areas of cooperation, it said.<\/p>\n
\"Among the critical areas are infrastructure development,
\ntrade and investment, harmonization of telecommunications and IT
\npolicies, content development and public-private sector
\ncollaboration,\" it added.<\/p>\n
Idros Abdul Hamid, an officer with the Jakarta-based ASEAN
\nsecretariat, said it would engage a professional consultant next
\nweek to assess the readiness of member countries to embrace IT
\nand to study investment opportunities and the digital divide.<\/p>\n
A report would be presented at the ASEAN summit in Brunei in
\nNovember.<\/p>\n
Idros said around 20 private-sector led projects have been
\ninitiated over the past two years, including the creation of a
\n\"virtual marketplace\" for farmers and an e-ASEAN tourism portal.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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