Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India convened the sixth ASEAN–India Digital Ministers’ (ADGMIN) meeting under the theme “Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence”. The meeting deliberated on key issues aimed at strengthening regional digital cooperation, with a focus on digital inclusion and integration. The meeting acknowledged the adoption of the ASEAN–India joint statement on advancing digital transformation at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit, aimed at strengthening cooperation on digital public infrastructure, financial technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), capacity building and knowledge sharing, and sustainable financing and investment. The meeting also noted the progress made in implementing the cooperation activities in the ASEAN-India 2025 digital work plan through capacity-building programs.
Additionally, the meeting welcomed the ASEAN-India Digital Work Plan for 2026, which includes the themes: (i) ICT training/capacity building programs; (ii) the India-ASEAN Regulators’ Conference and (iii) Deployment of telecom ICT solutions. The meeting also welcomed operationalisation of a special ‘ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future’.
The ADGMIN is an annual forum of telecom and digital ministers from the 11 ASEAN member states including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Viet Nam along with ASEAN’s dialogue partners including Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Addressing the meeting, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to ASEAN-India digital cooperation and welcomed the theme. He said, “We have collectively worked to narrow digital divides, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure that digital transformation serves as a force for inclusion, resilience, and economic growth.”
He highlighted India’s rapid digital transformation, including near-universal 4G coverage, the world’s fastest 5G rollout, expanded rural broadband connectivity through BharatNet, and India’s emergence as a major mobile manufacturing hub. Further, he showcased India’s digital public infrastructure such as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker as proven platforms for inclusive growth and efficient service delivery. India also highlighted the Sanchar Saathi initiative for telecom user protection and fraud prevention, offering to share best practices with ASEAN partners.
Emphasising the transformative role of AI, India outlined its IndiaAI Mission, with a strong focus on Safe and Trusted AI, and expressed readiness to collaborate with ASEAN on AI capacity building, standards development, and practical use cases. He said, “As we move from connectivity to intelligence, AI will be a defining force. India approaches AI with a clear conviction: innovation must be aligned with responsibility, transparency, and public trust.”.
