Digital Connectivity in ASEAN: Opportunities and Challenges / Sineenat SERMCHEEP
Channel: IRASEC
Date: 06/10/2021

Digital Connectivity in ASEAN: Opportunities and Challenges
Sineenat SERMCHEEP, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University

Digital connectivity is a crucial component for ASEAN’s post-pandemic recovery and competitiveness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many economies and industrial sectors have accelerated the adoption of digitalization to respond to the pandemic and to mitigate its effect. Improving digital connectivity helps to enhance the regional digital transition. It is also a prerequisite for national and regional competitiveness and a key driver of development in the digital era. What should ASEAN member states do to improve digital connectivity? What are the opportunities and challenges? How can ASEAN digital connectivity be forged with a broader region of the Indo-Pacific?
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Session 6 / ASEAN amidst Competing Connectivity Strategies and Integration Challenges
Chair: Prof. Prabir DE, ASEAN-India Centre (AIC), Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)

ASEAN is still far from clear that new geopolitical changing landscape and implications from major power rivalries will turn out to be positive for the future of region building. The prime objective of the Indo-Pacific is often seen as focussed on the security issue, and not yet well defined on its economic and connectivity potential. Without downplaying the significance of the Indo-Pacific, the issue is, however, about how ASEAN connectivity will be forging with a broader region of the Indo-Pacific, in addition to the already-existed initiatives like ASEAN Master Plan of Connectivity, and ASEAN Plus's Connectivities, the region has built up over years. What about the acceptance of the Indo-Pacific construct meant for AOIP and ASEAN Connectivity in particular? Session will review the progress in implementing the above initiatives and the tasks ahead.--
“Asia’s Post-Pandemic Order and Integration: Outlook of ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific at Crossroads” is an international conference organized by The Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia (IRASEC-CNRS) with the ASEAN Studies Center (Chulalongkorn University) in Bangkok, and the ASEAN-India Centre (AIC), RIS in New Delhi.
8-9 July 2021 - Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
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