Issue 23 Digital Transformation Digital Version

one vision
one identity
ISSUE 23
one community 2022
ASEAN REVS UP
Digital Transformation
ISSN 2721-8058
THE INSIDE VIEW SPECIAL SECTION SHIFTING CURRENTS
Building a modern, A salute to a steadfast Unboxing the region’s
agile, and efficient civil leader: ASEAN Secretary- shipping container
9 772721 805233 service General Dato Lim Jock Hoi crisis
ts of
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Ministerial Bodies *) takes guidance from and reports to both AMCA and AMRI
AMRI-ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information AHMM-ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting SOMS-Senior Officials Meeting on Sports
AMCA-ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts AMMDM-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting SOMRDPE-Senior Officials Meeting on Rural
on Disaster Management Development and Poverty Eradication
AMMY-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth COP-AADMER-Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN SOMSWD-Senior Officials Meeting on Social
Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response Welfare and Development
ASED-ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting AMME-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment ACWC-ASEAN Commission on the Promotion
and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children
AMMS-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports COP to AATHP-Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN ACW-ASEAN Committee on Women
Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
AMRDPE-ASEAN Ministers on Rural Development and SOMCA-Senior Officials Meeting on Culture and Arts SLOM-Senior Labour Officials Meeting
Poverty Eradication
AMMSWD-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and COCI-The ASEAN Committee for Culture and Information SOM-ACCSM-Senior Officials Meeting
Development on ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matters
AMMW-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women SOMRI-Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information SOMHD-Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development
ALMM-ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting SOMY-Senior Officials Meeting on Youth ASOEN-ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment
ACCSM-The Heads of Civil Service Meeting SOMED-Senior Officials Meeting on Education COM to AATHP-Committee under the Conference of Parties
for ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matters to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
2
Contents
In This
Issue
November 2022
Secretary-General of ASEAN
Dato Lim Jock Hoi
The Inside View Deputy Secretary-General
5 Driving Inclusive and

Sustainable Digital
16 Digital Infrastructure for
Universal Health Care in
26 Narrowing the
Digital Divide, One
of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-
Cultural Community (ASCC)
Transformation in ASEAN ASEAN Entrepreneur Ekkaphab Phanthavong
Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Alvin B. Marcelo, Asia eHealth at a Time
Secretary-General of ASEAN Information Network Ixora Tri Devi, The ASEAN EDITORIAL BOARD
for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community ASEAN Goes Full Cultural Digital Directors of ASCC
19 Throttle on Digital 28 Ambassadors: Towards Directorates
Designing the Future of
11 Transition Promoting Regional Rodora T. Babaran,
ASEAN: Towards a Satvinder Singh, Deputy Unity in ASEAN Ky-Anh Nguyen
Modern, Agile, and Secretary-General Nurul Aishah Ab Raman,
Citizen-Centric Civil of ASEAN for the ASEAN Assistant Directors of ASCC
Universiti Teknologi MARA,
Service Economic Community Malaysia Divisions
Mega Irena and Madyah Rahmi Benjamin Loh, Ferdinal
Digital Economy Facts & Fernando, Jonathan Tan,
22 41 A Safe Cyberspace
Lukri, ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community Department Figures for the ASEAN Mega Irena, Miguel Musngi,
Community Riyanti Djalante, Roger Yap
ASEAN Community-
13 building through Digital 24
Digital Skills for Inclusive
Growth: Reaching
Ziarla Mae Malabanan,
ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling
Chao Jr., Vong Sok
Transformation of the Hard-to-Reach in Programme

EDITORIAL TEAM
Education Systems Southeast Asia
Roger Y. Chao Jr., ASEAN Socio- Editor-in-Chief
Robin Bush and Hannah
Cultural Community Department Mary Kathleen Quiano-Castro
Najar, The Asia Foundation
Associate Editor
Joanne B. Agbisit
Viewpoint Staff Writer
8 Ajman Meludin
Permanent Secretary, 44 How Digital Trade Can
Power the Future of
56 Celebrating the Past,
Preparing for the
Ixora Tri Devi
Senior Officer, Analysis

Civil Service Governance, ASEAN Future, Reflections Division
Prime Minister’s Office, Greg Hands, Minister of Ahead of the ASEAN-EU Dinita Setyawati
Brunei Darussalam and State for Trade Policy, Commemorative
Chair of the 22nd ASEAN United Kingdom Officer, Analysis Division
Cooperation on Civil Service Summit
Igor Driesmans, EU Pricilia Putri Nirmala Sari
Matters
Ambassador to ASEAN
EDITORIAL ADDRESS
Special Section Shifting Currents The ASEAN Secretariat
ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community Department
30 A Salute to a Steadfast
Leader:
47 Unboxing: Tackling
ASEAN’s Container Crisis
49 ASEAN Advances
Migrant Workers’ Jalan Sisingamangaraja 70A
Jakarta 12110, Indonesia
Dato Lim Jock Hoi Jonathan Beard, Simon Rights in the Changing
Quail, Persa Paflioti, Andrea Tel: 62-21-7262991
14th ASEAN Secretary- World of Work
General Lam, Maria Pham, Claire Mega Irena and Carl E-mail: ASCCAD@asean.org
Sharp, Partnership for Rookie O. Daquio, ASEAN
Infrastucture ISSN 2721-8058
Socio-Cultural Community
Department Cover illustration by Maulana
Conversations Saputra
Layout by Foxidia Digital

33 Rusda Salaeh
Professional Translator 35 Langda Chea
Founder, BookMeBus 38 Fintech Unlocks
Financing for Women
Media
Entrepreneurs
@theaseanmagazine
34 Gary Evano Daniel
Partner and Managing 37 Chai Kok Chin, PhD
Founding Member and CEO,
Joanne B. Agbisit, The ASEAN
@asean_magazine
Director, Puyo Group
39
NEUON AI Financial Literacy
Made Easy @theasean_magazine
Ixora Tri Devi, The ASEAN
www.theaseanmagazine.asean.org
Snapshots www.asean.org
53 Chairman’s Statement
of the 40th and 41st
58 Building Understanding
and Cooperation: The
60 FInding Home
Away from Home
ASEAN Summits ASEAN-EU Cultural Pricilia Putri Nirmala Sari,
ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Festival
Community Department
Productive Year in Katia Maronati
54 Addressing Challenges
Together
Dinita Setyawati and Pricilia one vision
Putri Nirmala Sari, ASEAN one identity
Socio-Cultural Community one community
Department
3 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Note from Editorial Team
THE INSIDE VIEW
ASEAN’s digital transformation

towards inclusive and
sustainable growth
Inside:
Towards a modern, agile, and citizen-
centric civil sector
Photo Credit: ©Vasin Lee / Shutterstock

Education: Digital skills for the jobs of
the future
Digital infrastructure for healthcare
ASEAN’s digital economy landscape
Narrowing the divide, one

entrepreneur at a time
4
The Inside
The Inside View
View
Driving Inclusive and

Sustainable Digital
Transformation in
ASEAN
At the height of the COVID-19 outbreak,
my homeland the Lao PDR, like many
other nations, closed its schools. Over
1.7 million children in the Lao PDR
suffered from learning loss during
this period. In ASEAN, school closure
resulted in an unprecedented and
sudden disruption of education for
around 152 million children and
youth in 2020. The Lao PDR and all
other ASEAN countries carried out
online learning. We soon found
out, however, that the requisite
infrastructure for online education
was far from sufficient.
T
here is a significant disparity in
access to technology in Southeast
Asia. Our ASEAN Rapid Assessment:
The Impact of COVID-19 on Livelihoods
Across ASEAN (2020) reveals that only 53 per
cent of rural children and adolescents have
an internet connection at home as opposed
to 72 per cent of urban kids. Moreover, in
countries like Cambodia, the Lao PDR, and
Myanmar, only a small portion of homes
have access to broadband internet. And
while mobile penetration is high in most
Ekkaphab
ASEAN countries, many still do not have
access to unlimited internet on their
Phanthavong
mobile devices. The prices to access Deputy Secretary-General of
digital networks are also too high, ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-
thus, limiting internet use. Cultural Community

The Inside View
Unleashing the power of digital updates, real-time data, and technical exchanges that were
crucial to the response.
transformation
With ASEAN’s partners, the health sector is scaling
The COVID-19 pandemic is a catalyst for accelerating
up capabilities to prepare for, detect and respond to
ASEAN’s development agenda. The crisis pushed the
health emergencies and emerging diseases. For example,
region’s digital initiatives forward, incorporating the Fourth
the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and
Industrial Revolution into its recovery strategy. In the wake
Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) has been launched and
of the crisis, ASEAN developed the Consolidated Strategy
will soon be operational. Information sharing, data
on the Fourth Industrial Revolution for ASEAN (2021),
management and analytics are some of its key functions
which provides policy guidance in building an ASEAN digital
in disease surveillance, detection and risk assessment.
community across the three pillars and maximising the
Also established is the ASEAN Public Health Emergency
benefits of this digital transformation.
Coordination System (APHECS) to implement a more unified
regional response to future crises.
In his statement at the 28th ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC) Council Meeting, ASEAN Secretary-
On poverty eradication, the ASEAN Framework Action Plan
General Dato Lim Jock Hoi affirmed that the ASEAN Fourth
on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication 2021-2025
Industrial Revolution (4IR) Task Force Group will provide
offers workshops on optimising digital and smart villages
cross-pillar coordination in implementing the priority
to revitalise the village economy. Meanwhile, the ASEAN
initiatives under the 4IR Consolidated Strategy. He stressed
Declaration on Promoting Competitiveness, Resilience, and
that ASCC must continue to harness the opportunities of
Agility of Workers for the Future of Work reaffirms ASEAN’s
digital transformation to support regional recovery and
commitment to developing a human-centred approach
improve the lives of our people.
in preparing ASEAN workers’ ability to adapt to the
transformative changes, such as technological advances,
ASEAN cannot downplay the urgency to adapt to this new
demographic transitions, and the rise of the green economy.
era. Both the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework
These are all stipulated in the ASEAN Labour Ministers’
(ACRF) and the Ha Noi Declaration on the ASEAN
Joint Statement on the Future of Work: Embracing
Community’s Post-2025 Vision recognise that accelerating
Technology for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, as well as
inclusive digital transformation is necessary to create social
the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development
and economic opportunities for people and reduce social
in the Changing World of Work.
disparity.
The ASEAN Disaster Resilience Outlook, published in
2021, recommends technological innovations in disaster
Digital transformation efforts management, including an Information, Communication,
in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural and Technology Roadmap on Disaster Management; artificial
Community intelligence for anticipatory humanitarian action; regional

framework for data governance; and information-sharing
Several initiatives of the ASCC sectors are consistent with platforms. It also points out the importance of increased
the 4IR Consolidated Strategy. On education, the 12th digital literacy to strengthen response mechanisms and
ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting held in October 2022 build people’s resilience during disasters and crises.
endorsed the Declaration on the Digital Transformation of
Education Systems in ASEAN, which sets a clear agenda to On culture, the ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive
optimise digital technology for teaching and learning and (ACHDA) was launched in 2020 as the first digital repository
develop a safe and secure digital education ecosystem. for the valuable historical and cultural heritage of ASEAN
ASEAN Leaders adopted the declaration during the 40th Member States. The web-based archive allows visitors to
and 41st Summits in November. have an in-depth look into the collections of museums,
galleries, and libraries through three-dimensional models,
Digital health and health information systems are key images, audio recordings and valuable videos of cultural
components of the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development heritage.
Agenda (2021-2025) that can strengthen health systems and
improve public access to care. The ASEAN health sector’s In the information sector, several initiatives and activities
immediate and collective response to the pandemic was focus on the digital readiness of ASEAN citizens including
implemented through existing mechanisms like the ASEAN digital and media literacy, digital accessibility, and
Emergency Operation Centre Network for Public Health digital communications. For example, Member States
Emergencies and the ASEAN BioDiaspora Virtual Centre, encouraged citizens to uphold the five Core Values on
and the ASEAN Portal for Public Health Emergencies. These Digital Literacy for ASEAN—responsibility, empathy,
platforms enabled the health sector to share situational authenticity, discernment, and integrity—highlighting the
6
The Inside
The Inside View
View
elements necessary to create a safe online environment participation in the digital economy. We also signed the
and promote socially responsible online behaviour. ASEAN Agreement on Electronic Commerce to promote
Several policy initiatives, meanwhile, focus on digital the growth of e-commerce in the region and to strengthen
transformation. One is the Framework for Developing the national capacity to implement them. Implementing
Digital Readiness Among ASEAN Citizens adopted in 2021, the e-commerce agreement is instrumental for economic
which underscores the need to expand digital access, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
improve digital literacy, and increase digital participation
of all segments of the ASEAN population. Another is the And fourth, digital public services. We need to harness
Framework for Promoting Accessibility for All in ASEAN digitalisation and promote a high-quality public service
Digital Broadcasting which seeks to promote equitable delivery system that is agile, responsive, and people-
access to broadcasting services for all groups of people, centred. Access to electronic health records and other
especially the vulnerable population. In addition, to advance essential government services can leverage technological
ASEAN collaboration on minimising the harmful effects of advances to improve service delivery and enable
fake news and misinformation, the ASEAN Task Force on governments to better accommodate individual needs and
Fake News was established in 2022 to develop a common public expectations. This area is looked into by the ASEAN
frame of reference for such concepts as fake news and Cooperation on Civil Service Matter Work Plan 2021-2025.
disinformation, and to facilitate exchanges on strategies to
address these issues.
The Senior Officials Meeting on Education launched a

Collective action
comprehensive Training-of-Trainers Program to Counter At the 28th ASCC Council Meeting, ASEAN Member States
Disinformation and Promote Media Literacy in early 2022. solidified their commitment to build resilience and prepare
The training toolkit provides educators and trainers with the for future challenges in the new era. At the meeting, the
resources to help students critically analyse the onslaught ASCC Council Chair and Minister of Education, Youth, and
of information and messages from various media platforms. Sport, Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, called for a more significant
push in promoting the digital transformation of the
Preparing ASEAN and our education system. In line with Dr. Naron’s call, Thailand,
the incoming ASEAN education sector chair, announced its
people for the digital future chairmanship theme in 2024: “Transforming Education to
Fit the Digital Era.”
We must prepare the ASEAN Community and our people for
the future as we transition to a digital economy and society. Echoing the importance of inclusive education, Indonesia
ASEAN must make progress on four fronts to prepare for emphasised ASCC’s strong commitment to accessibility and
the digital future. the future of education, underlining the gravity of digital
transformation in equipping our people with relevant skills
First, skills. The changing world of work and the 4th and in the changing world of work.
future industrial revolutions will require our people to
reskill, upskill and learn new skills to remain relevant. Meanwhile, Malaysia mentioned various national policies to
Lifelong learning is also becoming essential to the future kickstart a journey towards greater digitalisation, including
of work. The ASEAN Declaration on Human Resource the National Digital Economy Blueprint. Brunei underlined
Photo Credit: ©Shirley Preston / Shutterstock

Development for the Changing World of Work is our the importance of digital transformation in uplifting the
steadfast commitment to equip our workforce with livelihood of cultural and creative workers, mostly youth,
competence that will enable them to be relevant and women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. At the
resilient in the future. same time, the Philippines reminds us to capitalise on
global technological and rapid digital transformation to
Second, we need to strengthen digital infrastructures. An create a high-performing, people-centred civil service while
excellent telecommunications infrastructure is the bedrock promoting good governance.
of any digital transformation. The ASEAN Digital Masterplan
2025 indicates the interventions necessary to ensure that In the coming years, the ASCC will work with other pillars
telecommunication and digital infrastructures, such as and Member States to ensure that all digital policies and
broadband coverage, are upgraded and that coverage is initiatives will fully benefit and create a safe environment
extended to rural areas. for the ASEAN population, regardless of age, gender,
ethnicity, and economic status. With all hands on deck, we
Third, we need to ensure the digital transformation of can take advantage of digital transformation for a stronger
businesses. The Masterplan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 ASEAN.
promotes the adoption of digital technology by micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their

The Inside View
Viewpoint
Ajman Meludin
Permanent Secretary
Civil Service Governance
Prime Minister’s Office
Brunei Darussalam
Chair of the 22nd ASEAN Cooperation

on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM)
ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin shares ASEAN’s

goals and plans for the civil service sector,
following the increased demand for online
public services as a result of the pandemic.
He discusses the challenges of improving the
digital infrastructure and building the capacity
of civil servants to deliver digital services
efficiently.
What are the goals of the ACCSM

for the civil service sector, and how
would you assess the progress in
achieving these goals?
ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin:

ACCSM was established to provide a
platform for knowledge-sharing for
civil servants, innovations, and best
Photo Credit: ©22nd ACCSM Secretariat, Brunei Darussalam
practices in ASEAN public service

management and development to
build and sustain a high-performing,
dynamic, and citizen-centric civil
service for the people of ASEAN.
Now, more than ever, it is crucial to

rethink the mechanisms for enhancing
the abilities and thinking of the civil
service community in order to keep
up with these transformative changes.
The community must take on new
innovative approaches in to be more
robust, flexible, and suited to address
more complexities in the future. In
this context, the theme for Brunei
Darussalam’s ACCSM Chairmanship,
‘’Strengthening ASEAN Public Sector:
Fit for the Future”, is in response
to the COVID-19 pandemic that has
8
The Inside View
affected the majority of ASEAN and and various initiatives that can be ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin:
global citizens. As we try to regain used to address them: i. BruHealth mobileapp: provides
normalcy in our lives, we need to citizens and residents updates
bolster the resilience of an ASEAN Service innovation on COVID-19 developments and
Public Sector that is future-ready, related policy measures, monitors
Collaboration and integration health conditions of residents
capable of mitigating future threats
and responding to them appropriately Capability and mindset of Brunei through the self-
and speedily. assessment feature, and tracks
Optimisation risk exposure of residents in
Brunei, using Bluetooth and GPS
The ACCSM has provided means for Security
tracking features. It also links to
gauging the progress of the ASEAN
Enterprise information management patients’ medical data (BruHims)
Member State-initiated projects in
the ACCSM Work Plan. All the projects ii. TransportBN: online application
are discussed and decided through In which services are digital for renewal of driving license; and
the Senior Officials and Heads of transformation most needed? vehicle license
Civil Service Meetings prior to their iii. Sistem Kebajikan Negara (SKN):
ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin:
inclusion in the ACCSM Work Plan. online platform to facilitate
The foundation for transforming Brunei
Furthermore, a monitoring and the public to apply for welfare
Darussalam digitally through the
evaluation strategy, which includes assistance online provided by a
Digital Economy Masterplan Brunei
baseline data, targets, and indicators number of agencies
2025 involves three key flagship
is also embedded in the ACCSM Work
projects to support seamless service iv. eZakat: the Syariah-compliant
Plan to track the progress of the
delivery among government agencies, eZakat digital platform systems
ASEAN Member States’ respective
businesses, and citizens: or processes for accessing
projects. The ACCSM continues to
i. The National Information Hub government service online
foster effective cooperation and
mutual assistance among ASEAN (NIH): vital to secure sharing There will be continuous sharing of
Member States in various key areas, of data within the government. best practices across ASEAN Member
including capacity building that The storage capacity and States through training, workshops,
contributes to the narrowing of the functionality of this hub will be conferences, and research/studies,
development gap. further improved with the current
which can be used by the Member
implementation of the National
States as a guide based on their
Centralized Database (NCDB)
One of the priorities in the civil specific abilities and resources. This
infrastructure
service sector is the effective, will provide the Member States with
conducive and efficient delivery ii. Digital Payments: will make a sense of confidence in delivering
of public service through it possible for the integration services to the public while tackling
digitalisation. How do ongoing between multiple payments the challenges of digital change.
digital trends and developments systems, thus, enabling
factor into the sector’s work plan? consumers to make instant
payments What challenges or barriers must
ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin: iii. Digital Identity: to facilitate an be addressed to assist the region’s
Brunei Darussalam has developed the individual’s access to different post-pandemic recovery?
Digital Economy Masterplan Brunei government services, including ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin:
2025 that outlines strategies for Brunei mobile applications and
These are the challenges and barriers
to achieve a digital economy and to government apps. The use of
that need to be addressed to assist
become a smart nation with a digital blockchain technology as the
the region’s post-pandemic recovery:
and future-ready society, a vibrant infrastructure for digital identity
and sustainable economy, as well as and the backbone for future i. Changing mindsets: the public
a conducive efficient public service public services sector’s culture needs to achieve
delivery digital ecosystem. e-readiness and support the
government’s agenda on digital
During the COVID-19 pandemic,
transformation
Supporting digital transformation there was a surge in demand for
requires a whole-of-nation approach, digital or online public services. ii. Improving Infrastructure:
with government leadership, to Can you cite examples from Brunei the government’s digital
strategically execute the developments Darussalam of public agencies transformation agenda must
of the digital economy master plan. creating new systems or processes be supported by a capable
for accessing government services and sustainable infrastructure
In order to accomplish Brunei’s online? How will ACCSM help recovery
vision and mission for this digital the Member States sustain the iii. Remedy the lack of government
transformation, the Government of momentum for digital services to policies that are in line with
Brunei has identified six focus areas benefit ordinary citizens and the government initiatives, which
that must be taken into consideration business sector? impacts the effectiveness of
government digitalisation

The Inside View
iv. Aligning the government’s digital One of the main areas is vii. The Philippines: Assessment and
transformation strategy with transformative leadership, which Organization Development (OD)
diverse customer/ stakeholder involves selecting and developing
viii. Singapore: Leaders in Strategic
requirements and expectations to leaders to accelerate the delivery of
Human Resource Programme –
realise the government’s digital digital services. ACCSM offers a variety Building a Future-Ready Public
transformation objectives of leadership themes that encourage Service
the each country’s public sector
leaders to cooperate and learn. ix. Thailand: Human Resource
How is ACCSM addressing the
Innovation
challenges of improving digital
infrastructure and building the Another priority area of ACCSM is the x. Viet Nam: Centre for Personnel
capacity of civil servants to strengthening of ASEAN Resource Management
accelerate the digital delivery of Centres (ARCs). This is another avenue
services? of opportunities that can be used to Another priority area is enhancing
address the challenges of improving the workforce competencies and
ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin: digital infrastructure and building the standards in the public sector
Enhancing the competencies and capacity of civil servants to accelerate by leveraging on the projects/
standards of the public sector’s the digital delivery of services. Each programmes/initiatives of Member
employees is one of ACCSM’s priority ASEAN Member States has one area of States, with a common goal of
areas. A competent workforce is expertise, which they contribute to the enhancing the public sector’s capacity
required to provide efficient public ARCs for all Member States to utilise. and capability. Just to name a few
services for the greatest benefit of the projects/programmes/initiatives in
ASEAN people. ACCSM acknowledges i. Brunei Darussalam: Managing Civil the current work plan that supports
that our workforce’s infrastructure Service Competencies building the capacity of civil servants
and building competencies must ii. Cambodia: Public Service Delivery to accelerate the digital delivery of
be bolstered for all Member States services such as:
to adapt to impending changes. iii. Indonesia: ASEAN Pool of Experts
on Civil Service (A-EXPECS) i. Digitalisation in Public Service
Enhancing the mindset, skill sets,
Delivery and Workshop on
and capacity of civil servants is iv. The Lao PDR: Civil Service Effective e-Training Methodology
fundamental to the performance of Performance Appraisal by the Lao PDR
public service in the context of rapid
v. Malaysia: Innovation in the ii. Digital Government Competency
expansion. In addition, it is imperative
Civil Service through Strategic and Capability Readiness by
that each public sector adopts best
Collaboration Malaysia
practices and attempts to standardise
its processes. This would help the vi. Myanmar: Public Service iii. Service Delivery Benchmarking
public sector more effectively provide Motivation Study, ACCSM Leaders in Strategic
reliable services to the ASEAN people. HR Innovations to Build a Future
Ready Public Service by Singapore
ACCSM Work Plan 2021–2025 related ACCSM Plus Three Work Plan 2021-
to Digital Trends 2025 related to Digital trends
1 Management on the Integrated Information System: 1 Workshop on Digitalisation in Public
Seminar Administration
2 Digitalisation in Public Service Delivery 2 ASEAN+3 Centre for Civil Service Research and
Innovation
3 Workshop on the Effective e-Training Methodology
Towards One Data State Civil Apparatus through
Digital Government Competency and Capability 3
4 Big Data: Benchmark/Training/Short Course
Readiness
4 Global Service Delivery Benchmarking Study
The ASEAN Conference on “Leadership and HR
5
Operations in a Digitally Transformed World” ACCSM Leaders in Strategic HR Innovations to
5
Build a Future-Ready Public Service
Information Technology Application in Civil Service
6
Modernisation 6 ACCSM Leaders in Service Delivery Innovations
Study on Civil Service Modernisation in ASEAN: Human Resource Management Practices in Times
7 7
Towards a Future-Ready Civil Service of the COVID-19 Pandemic
8 Development of a Framework for Strategic ASEAN Civil Service Development Program for HR
8
Partnerships with Relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, Innovations (HR in the Age of Disruptions)
Plus Three Countries, ASEAN Dialogue Partners,
9 Digital Civil Service for Better Service Delivery
International Organisations and Other Stakeholders
to Promote Good Governance and Accelerate an 10 Digital Transformation in Civil Service
Agile Civil Service in the Digital Era
11 Building e-Government: Platforms for Developing
Digital Government
10
The Inside
The Inside View
View
Designing the Future of ASEAN:

Towards a
modern, agile, and
citizen-centric
civil service
Mega Irena Madyah Rahmi Lukri

Senior Officer, Labour and Civil
Head, Labour and Civil Service Division
Service Division
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Department
Department
As part of the global community, ASEAN is also experiencing the mega trends of
Photo Credit: ©Tafotostock / Shutterstock

digitalisation and technological advancement. It is an irreversible process, albeit at
different paces across Member States. Therefore, adaptation is not an option but a
necessity across public and private spheres, including in the civil service. ASEAN Member
States are in the midst of modernising their civil service, and the COVID-19 pandemic
provided an impetus to accelerate it. Amidst lockdown and movement restrictions,
as part of public health measures, the digitalisation of public services improved the
accessibility and timeliness of responses to citizens’ needs.
A
SEAN civil services have partnership with the private sector, it year: Singapore (12), Malaysia (53),
accelerated the adoption of is linked to several local health apps Thailand (55), Brunei Darussalam (68),
digital technologies and online to facilitate the wider distribution of Indonesia (77), Viet Nam (86), and the
platforms to ensure the government’s free COVID-19 vaccines and medicines Philippines (89). This is in line with
effective and efficient delivery of and better access to doctors and the people’s desire for a more modern
public services despite movement healthcare for those infected by the approach to the services delivered to
restrictions during the pandemic. For coronavirus. them. A World Economic Forum-Sea
example, the Ministry of Health of Ltd. survey in 2021 showed that most
According to the United Nations, of the public wanted to digitalise
Indonesia launched a super app called
seven ASEAN Member States were different aspects of their lives further.
PeduliLindungi, a one-stop online
ranked in the top 100 of the world’s In the survey, the respondents
platform that provides pandemic- e-government development index this said they believe in the crucial
related information and services. In

The Inside View
role of digitalisation for economic are for citizens to enjoy streamlined continuous skills development of civil
resilience and recovery. Undoubtedly, government processes and servants, efficiency and effectiveness
governments and the public wish the significantly reduce waiting times for of public service delivery and digital
accelerated modernisation of civil government services to be delivered. government, among others.
service.

In the area of promoting citizen Recognising the need to realise future-
A 2021 report titled Civil Service participation in policymaking, Malaysia ready civil services, a regional study
Modernisation in ASEAN showed implemented a digital government was commissioned in 2021 to look into
that various measures had been with over 80 per cent of the services ways and challenges of modernising
taken by ASEAN Member States to provided online. The civil service civil services in ASEAN. Gaps in the
modernise their civil services. In the is proactive in ensuring that those availability and accessibility of digital
area of capacity and capability of civil with lower digital literacy can access infrastructure and digital skills of many
service, Viet Nam approved an up- these services through the Digital civil servants are fundamental issues
skilling programme for civil servants Government Transformation Action and should be the first and topmost
to equip them with skills necessary Plan that aims to bridge the digital priority. Narrowing the digital divide
for the future. The programme divide in the country. Programmes across countries and urban-rural areas
includes foreign language, information under this plan include ICT literacy is also one of the top agendas in the
technology, communication, training for vulnerable groups, wider ASEAN Community building.
teamwork, creative thinking, and distribution of information to isolated
other core competencies. Towards and vulnerable groups, and teaming Furthermore, the study recommends
inclusiveness and transformative up with the private sector to expand citizen engagement to ensure inclusive
leadership, Thailand implemented WiFi coverage and to create more and responsive public services. It
policies to enable diversity in civil affordable broadband packages for further recommends developing
service recruitment and the workforce, vulnerable groups. effective mechanisms that allow
particularly in relation to people with citizens to contribute to decision-
disabilities and the older population. These are some in-country good making processes that affect their
Thailand also provided assistive practices across the ASEAN region that daily lives. It posits that a whole-
technologies and procedures to showcase commitment and pathways of-government approach is not a
support these groups in their roles. towards modern and agile civil jargon but a culture that needs to be
services. Those commitments are also promoted in delivering public services.
Brunei Darussalam promotes the echoed at the regional level. Amidst digitalisation, the principles
delivery of an effective and efficient of integrity and accountability should
digital service through their Digital Our leaders adopted the ASEAN remain intact and at the core.
Government Strategy 2015-2020, Declaration on the Role of Civil As the data-driven public sector
which transforms service delivery, Service as a Catalyst for Achieving becomes the foundation of a digital
business processes and policymaking the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, government, it is also imperative for
in the civil service sector. ICT which cemented the joint commitment ASEAN civil services to improve public
systems, data management and to raising professional standards data processing, management and
usage, and staff capabilities were and capabilities of civil servants, protection capacities, and build their
improved. Commitment at all levels to ensuring good governance principles, digital skills.
implement the strategy has resulted and strengthening government
in the success of Brunei Darussalam institutions. The ASEAN Statement Ultimately, we all want to enjoy high-
in elevating its E-government on Promotion of Good Governance standard public services responsive to
Development Index from 86 in 2014 and Acceleration of an Agile Civil our needs. In this regard, ASEAN is on
to 68 in 2022. Working towards an Service in a Digital Economy calls for track to take steps towards modern,
effective bureaucracy, the Philippines’ engaging and responsive civil services. agile and citizen-centric civil services
Government introduced the Anti- Towards this end, regional initiatives in the post-pandemic digital era.
Red Tape Act to improve frontline were planned and implemented to
government services. The objectives promote transformative leadership,
12
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The Inside View
View
ASEAN Community-
building through
of Education Systems
Roger Y. Chao Jr., PhD

Head, Education, Youth, and Sports Division
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department
A
SEAN is envisioned to be a peaceful, stable, and
Since the establishment of ASEAN in
resilient community with enhanced capacity to
1967, education has been one of the respond effectively to challenges, and an outward-
looking region within a global community of nations.
key areas for collaboration. However,
Within the ASEAN Community-building project, the core
the focus on education collaboration focus on regional economic integration remains, and human
in ASEAN has shifted from cooperation resource development as the mainspring of economic
development and enhanced participation is a key aspect
to collaboration in relation to human of this regional community-building project. However, the
recent decade has seen significant challenges to ASEAN
resource development and eventually human resource development and ASEAN integration,
in support of the ASEAN Community- such as the 4th Industrial Revolution, the changing world
of work, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic.
building project. Socio-economic-cultural shifts have also occurred with
the advancement of information and communications
technology and the digitalisation of the world including
ASEAN.

The Inside View
Digital ASEAN of transforming ASEAN into a leading

digital community, and that digital
and marketable. Digital transformation
presents an opportunity to address the
To address the above-mentioned transformation is a cross-cutting issue learning crisis, which was exacerbated
challenges, ASEAN focused on that requires coordinated actions by the pandemic, and reach
four fronts namely: skills, digital from multiple stakeholders across marginalised populations. Equal access
infrastructure, digital transformation all ASEAN sectoral bodies, including to quality and relevant education
of business, and digital public services. education. within a lifelong learning framework
Some of the key ASEAN initiatives must be provided for all.
addressing these areas include
the following: ASEAN Declaration Digital The ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025
on Human Resource Development
for the Changing World of Work,
transformation of aims to have ASEAN as a leading
digital community and economic bloc,
ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery education systems powered by secure and transformative
Framework, Consolidated Strategy
on the Fourth Industrial Revolution
in ASEAN digital services, technologies, and
ecosystem. However, there is a need
for ASEAN, Masterplan on ASEAN Education is central to socio- to ensure that the people of ASEAN
Connectivity 2025, and the ASEAN economic-cultural development in have the skills and competencies
Digital Masterplan 2025. These ASEAN and its people. As ASEAN required to participate and contribute
declarations and initiatives support lays out its digital transformation to a digital ASEAN, which requires
ASEAN Community building including strategies for addressing the above- digital transformation to be
the utilisation of digital technologies mentioned key challenges, it is crucial undertaken across key sectors. These
in initiating digital transformation also to address education and how include strengthening the ASEAN
in ASEAN and its various sectors, it contributes to skills and human education sector and the region’s
including human resource resource development, and economic digital infrastructure. There is a need
development and education. growth in ASEAN. to foster digital literacy, develop
transferable skills, promote access
In 2021, the ASEAN Leaders’ It should be highlighted that people to safe digital learning opportunities,
statement on advancing digital need to continuously reskill, upskill and engage and collaborate with
transformation recognised the benefits and learn new skills to remain relevant the private sector and multiple
14
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The Inside View
View
stakeholders to develop and deliver sustainable funding, intellectual

innovative digital learning solutions. property rights, and ensuring a
These needs drove the development safe digital learning environment.
of the Declaration on the Digital The ASEAN Leaders adopted the
Transformation of Education Systems declaration at the 40th and 41st
in ASEAN, which was led by the ASEAN Summits on 11 November. It
Philippines and supported by UNICEF clearly signifies the importance of
EAPRO and the ASEAN Secretariat. education, from early childhood to
higher education, and even within the
The process of developing framework of lifelong learning, in the
the Declaration on the Digital ongoing ASEAN Community-building
Transformation of Education project.
Systems in ASEAN was a tedious
multistakeholder process, which People are the heart of any
included consultations at the national community, and education empowers
level with education stakeholders, people to participate and contribute
students, parents, teachers, digital to any community-building project.

education providers and experts; The Declaration on the Digital
and regional consultations with Transformation of Education Systems
participants from all ASEAN Member in ASEAN articulates the political will
States, international and regional and ASEAN Leaders’ commitments.
organisations, and experts on The next step is operationalising the
education, digital technology, and declaration with the development of a
digital education. The declaration Strategic Plan of Action or Roadmap,
considers various relevant issues and its eventual implementation
including inclusion and equity, the towards the digital transformation
digital divide, the need for digital of ASEAN education systems and
pedagogies and capacity building ultimately, towards a stronger and
for teachers, digital infrastructure, more resilient ASEAN Community.

The Inside View
Digital
Infrastructure for
Universal Health
Care in ASEAN
Alvin B. Marcelo, MD
Asia eHealth Information Network
After experiencing the ravages of a global pandemic, ASEAN Member States are now
sharing knowledge to mitigate similar catastrophic events in the future. They are also
realising that everyone needs to be protected and as such, are now embracing universal
health care as a shared key capability consistent with the Sustainable Development
Goals of 2030. We propose a simple and easy to remember strategy to build digital health
capability within and between countries in the ASEAN. Gleaned from over ten years of
learning as peers at the Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN), the Mind the GAPS,
Fill the GAPS framework aims to bring stakeholders inside and outside of the health
sector to work together in building their digital health capabilities towards the vision of
health for all.
16
The Inside View
The health sector is has emerged as an accepted means

of communication. Electronic mail,
partnerships and alignment with the
digital transformation activities of the
very complex instant messaging, and the internet other groups. It is a show of multi-
In most countries, health systems have become reliable modes of sectoral support to the leadership of
are very complex because of the communication between providers the Ministries of Health in developing
many stakeholders involved and the and their patients during the height of and leading their national digital
numerous transactions between the lockdowns. If used properly, this health strategies. These may include
them. The individual peculiarities electronic form of communication can registering projects that address the
of the contractual arrangements provide tremendous value to patients range of needs of universal health
between stakeholders just adds to the and the health systems that they rely on. coverage (UHC) even if these are being
muddle. Often, rules vary even with implemented by non-health sectors,
similar partners, such as contracts such as client registration by the civil
of a hospital with different health Mind the GAPS, fill registration authority. It also includes
infrastructure projects such as free
maintenance organisations. This
variability of rules and arrangements
the GAPS wireless and broadband connectivity
makes the health system very hard to To use ICT within this complex in far-flung areas by the ICT agency.
navigate. health system, AeHIN recommends As the de facto leader of the health
the Mind the GAPS, Fill the GAPS sector, the Ministry of Health should
And this complexity exists beyond framework. GAPS is an acronym for ensure coordination of these ICT-
the clinical aspects of health. Governance, Architecture, People related projects managed by other
A complicated health system and Program Management, and sectors as well as aptly manage its
impacts the financial, economic, Standards and Interoperability. It is own. A multi-sectoral coordination
and even innovation capabilities of an easy-to-remember mnemonic mechanism therefore is key to
the stakeholders. This results in to quickly run through the major successful implementation of these
an environment that lacks trusted components of national digital projects which form the foundation of
standards, hence impeding the ability health development. Mind the GAPS ICT in support for UHC.
of stakeholders to collaborate with assesses the current capabilities
each other with confidence and with of Ministries of Health (MOH) while To help MOHs with their digital
consistency. If the ultimate goal is Fill the GAPS recommends possible health, the World Health Organization
universal health coverage, these interventions based on the findings of (WHO) and the International
stakeholders must work together the assessment. Telecommunications Union (ITU)
and coordinate for the benefit of jointly published the National eHealth
their patients. But as long as health Mind the GAPS begins with a Strategy Toolkit. The toolkit lists seven
information systems are fragmented, convergence workshop. A convergence mandatory components of a robust
patients will be unable to reap the workshop is an MOH-led multisector digital health strategy beginning with
benefits of data portability as they workshop where non-health leadership and governance at the top,
traverse the complex landscape of sectors are invited to understand supported by other components, such
healthcare. the overall health strategy of the as strategy and investment; legislation,
government and see how their own ICT policy and compliance; workforce;
Fortunately, information and projects contribute to digital health and a vertical stack of infrastructure;
communications technology (ICT) development. The workshop elicits standards and interoperability; and
services and applications (Figure 1).
Figure 1. National eHealth Strategy Toolkit

The Inside View
Of importance under leadership and governance is the prescribed structure placing the leadership with the health sector
supported by a steering committee composed of leaders from other sectors. This steering committee is further supported
by a core eHealth strategy project team. Other stakeholders are the reference and expert advisory groups and the public
as the broader stakeholders group (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Leadership and Governance Structure
On architecture, AeHIN realises that developing a pool of competent people signed up and are now undergoing
complex systems are difficult to in the public and private sector who capacity-building with the help of
navigate and recommends that the can understand the blueprint and development partners. Together
MOH build and maintain a blueprint comply with its standards. This starts they have called themselves the
(or architecture) that is shared to all with the creation of a national digital Community of Interoperability Labs
stakeholders. This blueprint must health program management team or or COIL. In ASEAN, the Philippines,
contain three elements: 1) the current office (PMO). The PMO will coordinate Indonesia, the Lao PDR, Thailand, and
state architecture (where we are with the other sectors who are Viet Nam have joined the COIL.
now), 2) the target state architecture working on projects related to digital
(where we want to be), and 3) the health. We encourage the Ministry of The promise of information and
sequence plan or roadmap that details Health and the whole government as communications technology in
the transition from the current to well to establish a pool of certified healthcare is alluring. But the complex
the target architecture (how to get project managers supervising their health system environment poses a
there). Because the process of creating flagship digital transformation projects huge challenge for ICT adoption in all
blueprints for complex systems is ensuring that these projects are being countries. To simplify, AeHIN promotes
tedious and time-consuming, AeHIN delivered within scope, in budget, and the Mind the GAPS, Fill the GAPS
recommends designating an enterprise on time. framework to guide countries in their
architect within the MOH to oversee transformation.
this exercise with the assistance of For standards and interoperability,
experienced professional and certified AeHIN recognises that many countries
enterprise architects. The earlier still do not know how to create nor Learn more about the
stakeholders are engaged in the adopt standards and how those Asian eHealth Information
architecture development, the better contribute to interoperability. Thus at Network at https://www.
will be their participation in the build- the AeHIN General Meeting in Colombo asiaehealthinformationnetwork.
up of the architectural components. in 2018, countries volunteered to set org/
up their own interoperability labs and
On people and programme begin the work of building capacity for The views expressed here are of the author,
management, AeHIN recommends their local teams. Several countries not those of ASEAN or its members.
18
The Inside
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View
ASEAN goes full

throttle on digital
transition
In a worldwide race towards digital

economy transition, ASEAN is
set to pull ahead of the throng.
T
he conditions are ripe for digital
transformation to happen. As of 2022,
ASEAN has 460 million Internet users,
100 million of whom joined in the last three
years alone, based on the e-Conomy SEA 2022
study led by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Co.
By end of 2022, 370 million of these Internet
users will become digital consumers, i.e.
those who buy products and services
through digital channels.
Ninety per cent of the digital merchants

in the Google-commissioned Dynata
SEA-6 Digital Merchant Survey 2021
say they are now accepting digital
Satvinder Singh
payments. About 35 per cent of them
attribute their businesses’ survival to
digital transactions, and 82 per cent
Deputy Secretary-General of of them expect more than half of their
ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic earnings to come from digital sales in
Community the next five years.

The Inside View
In total, merchandise sold via digital development remains inadequate, transactions remain elusive. Cross-
channels—also referred to as gross venture capital is scarce, and border digital financial services, in
merchandise value (GMV)—will reach intellectual property protection particular, have not gained a foothold.
194 billion US dollars by end of 2022, frameworks are flawed. These can Without digital finance, transactions
according to e-Conomy SEA 2022. The discourage businesses from developing are slower, costlier, and less
region’s GMV is expected to soar to new products and services, improving transparent for individuals, businesses,
363 billion US dollars by 2025. And by processes, and securing patents. and governments.
2030, it is projected to reach 1 trillion
US dollars, with e-commerce activities Meanwhile, the application of digital These challenges were top of mind
contributing the lion’s share. technologies to ease cross-border when the ASEAN Economic Community
trade of goods and services—delivered was formulating its goals, priorities,
But despite these promising either digitally or physically—and and plans for attaining digital
projections, several challenges automate logistics movement is still transformation and integration. The
may set back the region’s digital in the early stages. More needs to overall plan of action is contained in
transformation. be done in terms of using electronic the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap: An
documents for pre-arrival processing, ASEAN Digital Transformation Agenda
The ASEAN Digital Integration Index, e-payments facilities, and IT-enabled to Accelerate ASEAN’s Economic
which indicates how ASEAN Member single window system, among other Recovery and Digital Economy
States fare against other Asia- digital solutions. Integration (2021).
Pacific countries in terms of digital
integration, flagged some of these Cyber threats are likewise outpacing The Roadmap synthesises and builds
challenges. data protection and cybersecurity from the initiatives laid out in existing
measures of ASEAN Member States. instruments, such as the ASEAN Digital
The shortage of digital skills was While policies are in place, technical Masterplan 2025, the ASEAN Digital
cited as the most pressing problem and institutional capabilities are Integration Framework Action Plan
for ASEAN. Demand for a digital- lacking to parry cyber attacks and data 2019-2025, the ASEAN Agreement
savvy workforce is growing among breaches. They can erode business on Electronic Commerce, and the
businesses across economic sectors, and consumer trust and deter the Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth
but the talent pool remains limited. use of digital solutions. The top 1,000 Industrial Revolution for ASEAN.
This skills mismatch impedes companies in the region could lose It also complements the national
businesses’ ability to grow, innovate, as much as 750 billion US dollars in digitalisation plans of each Member
and be highly competitive. market capitalisation due to cyber State.
threats, according to a 2018 study by
Support for innovation and A.T. Kearney. One set of priority measures in the
entrepreneurship is also lagging. In Roadmap pertains to the electronic
most Member States, the proportion For segments of the ASEAN population, facilitation of intra-ASEAN trade
of GDP spent on research and digital banking and other financial and harmonisation of digital trade
20
The Inside
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View
standards. For example, ASEAN is intends to add more digital-related Resilience and Information Sharing
working towards a faster and more content to the ASEAN SME Academy. Platform to facilitate sharing of best
efficient border clearance of goods, This e-learning platform offers practices and information on cyber
including agricultural products, finance and accounting, management, threats.
through Member States’ use of digital marketing, operations, technology,
rather than paper documents, such and trade and logistics courses to Finally, the ASEAN Economic
as the ASEAN customs declaration micro, small and medium-sized Community saw the need to develop
document, e-phytosanitary certificate, enterprises in the region. It also an ASEAN Digital Economy Framework
and e-animal health certificate, under recently completed the first phase of Agreement that sets ASEAN’s unified
the ASEAN Single Window system. the Go Digital ASEAN initiative, a digital strategy to turn the region into a digital
ASEAN is also looking to extend the skills training programme launched economic powerhouse. To support the
same digital document exchange in 2020 to increase economic activity preparation of the agreement, ASEAN
arrangement with its dialogue partners and soften the pandemic’s impact, has commissioned a study to take
in the foreseeable future. particularly for vulnerable groups. It stock of ASEAN’s progress, including
benefitted 225,778 individuals, many opportunities available, in the different
An interlinked digital payment and of them women entrepreneurs, youth, areas of the digital economy, including
identity system is another priority and people with disabilities from all digital infrastructure, digital trade,
measure. The central banks of 10 Member States. More beneficiaries electronic banking and payment, data
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, will be reached when the programme governance, and cybersecurity. The
Singapore, and Thailand recently launches its second phase in 2023. study will be completed in 2023, and
signed a cooperation agreement to negotiations for the Agreement are set
develop an interoperable system that Interventions to improve cybersecurity to start in 2024.
will allow instant digital payments and and data protection are also a priority.
financial transactions across ASEAN ASEAN aims to carry out a periodic
without costly intermediaries. The rest review of the ASEAN Framework
of the Member States are expected to on Digital Data Governance which Download the Bandar Seri
join in the next two years. To improve provides Member States with policy Begawan Roadmap from
businesses’ access to cross-border and regulatory guidance on governing Bandar-Seri-Begawan-
financing, ASEAN is also working digital data in the digital economy. It is Roadmap-on-ASEAN-Digital-
towards the widespread use and also pursuing the establishment of the Transformation-Agenda_
interoperability of the unique business ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Endorsed.pdf
identification (UBIN) of micro- and Response Team to ensure the speedy
small-sized businesses within ASEAN. information exchange and coordinated
response of Member States in cases
Closing the digital skills and talent of transboundary cyber threats and
gap is an urgent measure under the attacks. ASEAN is also fully committed
Roadmap. For this reason, ASEAN to using the ASEAN Cybersecurity

Infographics
DIGITAL ECONOMY
Facts & Figures
TOTAL INTERNET USERS
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Southeast Asia’s digital
360 400 440 460 economy is on track to
million million million million reach USD 200 Billion of
Gross Merchandise Value
(GMV) by end of 2022—
three years earlier than
expected.
E-commerce (composed of
marketplaces, direct-to-
consumer, groceries) is one
2019 2020 2021 2022
of the five leading sectors
in the digital economy. The
other four are transport and
food, online travel, online
media, and digital financial
services.
22
Infographics
Infographics
IMPACT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA’S DIGITAL

ECONOMY ON BUSINESS, JOBS, AND
REGIONAL ECONOMY (AS OF 2022)
20-25 6-7 160,000 30 5 to 10%

million million direct jobs were million penetration of
unique e-commerce small-to created across indirect jobs (as a Southeast Asia’s
merchants (composed medium-sized the digital result of the digital GDP in 2022
of marketplaces, restaurants are economy platform business)
direct-to-consumer, on food delivery were created across
groceries) transact on platforms the digital economy
e-commerce platforms
DIGITAL ECONOMY AND

THE ENVIRONMENT
By 2030, emissions are projected to reach
about 20 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent as the digital economy grows.
To reduce carbon footprint:
Logistics providers can deploy electric Online transport sector can

vehicles (EV) to handle last-mile help drivers reduce wait times,
deliveries, consolidate operations optimise driving. This can lower
into satellite distribution centres, and the sector’s footprint by 20-
further reduce and recycle packaging 30%.
materials. This can reduce e-commerce
footprint by 30-40%.
Source: Google, Temasek, and Bain & Co. (2022). e-Conomy SEA 2022
Report: Through the waves, towards a sea of opportunity. https://
services.google.com/fh/files/misc/e_conomy_sea_2022_report.pdf

The INSidE
tHE Inside ViEW
View
Digital Skills for Inclusive Growth

Reaching the
Hard-to-Reach in
Southeast Asia
Robin Bush, PhD Hannah Najar
Regional Program Manager for Go Digital ASEAN
Country Representative, Malaysia
The Asia Foundation
The Asia Foundation
A
cross Southeast Asia, the people with disabilities and indigenous producing an instant ginger-drink
digital landscape has become entrepreneurs, in basic digital skills, powder in her home, selling to
a contested arena, as with a special emphasis on women. So customers in her neighbourhood and
governments and private companies how have we reached those with the making a modest income. But with no
seek to both drive economic growth most to gain from digital literacy, and way to expand and reach a broader
and protect and control data flows. what have we learned along the way? market, she could not earn enough to
This fragmented regional environment meet her family’s needs.
tends to widen the digital divide, as Eighty million new internet users
came online in Southeast Asia in We also met Silinphone in Vientiane,
only large tech companies have the the Lao PDR, who had put her career
resources to be effective private- the past two years, but many of the
small-business owners we worked on hold when she had children but
sector players. Meanwhile, micro, had never lost her entrepreneurial
with were using the internet only
small, and medium enterprises drive. She had opened a small
for entertainment or to connect
(MSMEs), the drivers of most convenience store in her house,
with friends. They knew that tools
economies in the region, are left which allowed her to earn money
like social media and online banking
without the skills needed to reap while taking care of her growing
existed, but they either did not see
the dividends of the digital economy. how these could help their businesses, family. But during the second wave
Governments and private companies or did not trust online services. of the pandemic in the Lao PDR,
have embraced skills training and when only essential workers were
digitisation to boost growth and When the pandemic hit Asia, digital permitted to leave their homes, her
recover from the economic damage literacy surged in importance. With sales plummeted. Customers began
of COVID-19, but there is a difference lockdowns, online skills often meant calling her directly to ask for a delivery
between recognising the importance of the difference between keeping your option, but Silinphone had never used
including underserved populations and shop doors open or closing down for map applications before and was
effectively reaching those groups with good. The pandemic was a crisis for not sure how to share a location pin
female entrepreneurs in particular, with delivery drivers instead of giving
resources they can use.
as women were forced to shoulder a directions over the phone.
The Asia Foundation has addressed sharp increase in demand for unpaid
these challenges head-on for the past care and domestic work. For female entrepreneurs like Ekawati
two years. With grant support from and Silinphone, the barriers to
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, During the Go Digital ASEAN training, accessing training are significant. In
the ASEAN-endorsed Go Digital ASEAN we met female entrepreneurs like addition to COVID-19 restrictions and
initiative obtained the necessary Ekawati, in Banten, Indonesia, who the lack of options for entrepreneurs
funding that successfully trained over started a small business in the in rural areas, they face the loss of
225,000 underemployed youth and early stages of the pandemic to income from closing the shop for
small-business owners, including help support her family. She began a day of training, and they typically
24
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View
must juggle household and child- or ASEAN programme, as experienced by We are now looking forward to the next
Photo Credit: ©The Asia Foundation

eldercare responsibilities. But while Ekawati and Silinphone and shown by phase. Go Digital ASEAN 2 will extend
the challenges they face are clear, we the 2021 impact assessment. Ninety- our basic digital literacy training to
also know that underserved groups five per cent of trainees in all 10 MSMEs not yet reached by the first
like women have the most to gain ASEAN countries reported increased phase of programming and design,
from digital skills training. ability to use ICT tools to support while offering next-level training for
their livelihoods, and nearly four out growth-oriented entrepreneurs and
Through Go Digital ASEAN, Ekawati of five MSMEs were able to move phase-one graduates who are ready to
learned to promote her ginger drink their businesses online as a result of take their businesses further. We see a
on social media and e-commerce the training. More than one-quarter huge opportunity to drive inclusive and
platforms so she could sell it beyond of MSMEs trained across ASEAN and green growth in ASEAN, and we will be
her immediate neighbourhood. Without nearly one-third of MSMEs trained in offering training on topics like financial
leaving home, she now earns twice Indonesia reported increased sales or literacy and planning, e-commerce,
as much and can still perform her revenue. Importantly, our assessment cybersecurity, and carbon-footprint
household tasks. also revealed that female participants reduction to 200,000 MSMEs across the
responded particularly well to the region.
Similarly, after completing the digital
training, with 33 per cent of them
maps training module, Silinphone was
starting or expanding their businesses
able to search and pinpoint locations The views and opinions expressed here are
online as a result of the course.
and share them with delivery drivers those of the authors, not those of The Asia
through the new social media site she Implementing a programme for Foundation.
created for her business. Not only did 225,000 individuals across 10
she restart her business and begin a different countries requires a delicate The authors can be reached at:
rebound towards her pre-pandemic balance between regional and local hannah.najar@asiafoundation.org and
sales, but she is proud to have broken strategies. A key to creating access robin.bush@asiafoundation.org
the stereotype that women her age are to training for more MSMEs is to
too old to learn digital skills. “When design for the intersecting needs To learn more about Go Digital ASEAN, visit
it comes to technology,” she said, “I of rural entrepreneurs in particular, the following link:
used to depend on my family for help. with special attention to how gender,
But now, I can go online by myself and https://asiafoundation.org/
culture, and (dis)ability relate to those
I am confident to conduct business needs. Through effective partnerships emerging-issues/go-digital-
online.” with local organisations, we can meet asean/
these needs by adopting simple and
At a time when so many people lost The article first appeared in The Asia
relevant curricula, scheduling training
their jobs or were forced to shutter Foundation’s InAsia Blog on 31 August 2022.
at accessible times and locations, and
their businesses, it was a thrill to see This is an edited and shorter version of the
getting local trainers to offer direct,
the positive results of the Go Digital article.
follow-on support.

The Inside View
Go Digital ASEAN Initiative

Narrowing the
Digital Divide, One
Entrepreneur at a
Time
Ixora Tri Devi
Staff Writer
The ASEAN
In cities, it is common to
see people, young and old,
Hensona Anak Munah
glued to their cellphones and Mendaram Besar Longhouse, Brunei Darussalam
A
reaping the benefits of various
apps in the market. It is not s a little girl, 43-year-old Part of it is because of the COVID-19
Hensona Anak Munah was pandemic. At that time, people stayed
always the case for small and
always mesmerised by her at home and did not go out shopping.
micro-entrepreneurs living on There was also no bazaar or exhibition.
mother’s and grandmother’s laser-
the outskirts of the cities. Thus, I created the account to
focused concentration while weaving.
They crafted bamboo and rattan promote my crafts,” she says.
Photo Credit: ©Hensona Anak Munah
Although these entrepreneurs strands with seemingly magical hands Although Hensona was already familiar
may use social media, they into useful and beautiful household with Instagram when she received
do so for connection and items like trays, mats, and baskets. training from Go Digital ASEAN in 2021,
entertainment and not as she admits that fear still shadows her
In Mendaram Besar Longhouse, Brunei
a platform to grow their Darussalam, Hensona’s hometown, every move.
businesses. With digitalisation hand weaving is a long-held tradition “Even though I have never been a
becoming the new normal, passed on to the women of the victim of digital fraud or internet scam,
these entrepreneurs need family. Hensona and her three sisters I am still cautious when it comes to
to catch up. The Go Digital wholeheartedly learned about this the internet. I know that digitalisation
ASEAN programme was treasured heritage since childhood. can make our life easier. We can order
As she grew older, Hensona made it a anything at the tip of our fingers!
launched precisely to bridge
habit to practice weaving after her to- However, I deeply understand that this
the skills gap. do list around the house. technology comes with its own risks.
All of this frightened me. Thus, this
The programme sought to In 2008, at 29, Hensona established
training helped boost my confidence,”
help small business owners her business, Sonna Craft. Mixing
she says.
rattan, bamboo, plastic, and fabric, the
overcome their fear and
mother of two gives a modern take Producing up to 20 bakul [basket] a
mistrust of the technology, on the traditional basket, Bakul, and month, weaved by her own hands,
craft a brand-new way to moulds them into elegant handbags Hensona admits she likes to keep her
market their products, and priced from 10 to 150 US dollars. business small and manageable. Thus,
establish their strong presence “My store is at my house. My she opts out of e-commerce platforms
in the digital realm. The ASEAN customers usually heard about me and only chooses to promote her
interviewed two of the over business via Instagram, which she
by word of mouth. It is small and
130,000 women trainees under thinks is Brunei’s most popular social
traditional. In 2020, I created an
media.
the programme. Instagram account for my business.
26
The Inside View
Nevertheless, Hensona, who is also can just click and send me a message While many COVID-19 restrictions have
the Head of the Women Bureau of through direct message,” she says. been lifted, Hensona is expecting more
Mendaram Besar Longhouse, already opportunities to promote her craft in
“To all my fellow entrepreneurs, do
reaps profits from showcasing her various exhibitions. At the same time,
not be afraid of digital transformation.
beautiful crafts online. she keeps working on her grit in the
Please do not be shy to promote your
digital world so she can pass on her
“There are many benefits in using product through social media like
flourishing business and skills to her
social media to promote our business. Instagram and TikTok. I have seen it
future grandchildren.
We do not need to go to other myself, that we can take advantage of
countries to promote our crafts. My this technology. So, let’s not wait to
customers from all over the world seize the call to ‘Go Digital’!”
Kamalia Anum Zainal

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Thirty-six-year-old Kamalia Anum Although she has trained hundreds to Kamalia helped them sign up for the
Zainal juggles many roles: mother of adapt to digital transformation, the government-made digital payment app
two; employee of a local authority in University Utara Malaysia graduate Sarawak Pay to receive and transfer
Padawan, Sarawak; Zumba instructor; confesses that she only became funds. She also introduced the “Cash
entrepreneur; and most recently, familiar with Google Meet and Zoom on Delivery” method offered by various
trainer for the Go Digital ASEAN at the pandemic’s peak. Alas, her e-commerce platforms.
programme. Starting as a trainee in experience as an online business
After a lesson on the payment method,
late 2020, she became one of the owner only increased her confidence
Kamalia adds, they tackled the most
programme’s star trainers, instructing to inspire other aspiring entrepreneurs
challenging part: marketing. “They
up to 600 participants in just a year. in the programme.
are clueless on how to market their
Kamalia overcame many hurdles to Kamalia runs a drop shipping business products. I always told them to be
achieve her latest accomplishment. that offers “viral” products on social creative and think out of the box,” she
She wrote to the local Palace, asking media, such as magnetic fake lashes, says.
for its blessing to train students crispy crab sticks, and salted-egg
“For example, if they cannot afford
from various institutions. Once cornflakes. Her first-hand experience
models, they should wear their
the government relaxed COVID-19 has benefited her trainees, primarily
products themselves. It is quite
restrictions, she also went to stay-at-home mothers selling local
complicated because we also need
numerous rural digital centres to train cuisine and delicacies. Some of them
to respect their boundaries. Some
street vendors. are store owners forced to close their
Photo Credit: ©Kamalia Anum Zainal

participants do not want to show their
businesses during the pandemic. “This
In her job as a trainer, Kamalia faces because of low self-esteem. We
condition pushes them to move their
reveals that the infrastructure made can inspire them by giving examples
businesses 100 per cent to online
available by the local government of what they can do within their
platforms,” Kamalia explains.
was paramount to the success of the boundaries,” she continues.
training. But before Kamalia could get through
Kamalia is grateful for the opportunity
the main course of her training, she
“Sarawak has excellent infrastructure. to share her knowledge, especially
had to reinforce the use of digital
Not only in terms of electricity, water, as she sees the programme’s
payment methods to the participants,
or road but also digital infrastructure. commitment to continuously train
as many of them come from bankless
It makes my job easier. We can go to a participants. Soon, Kamalia plans to
communities. “They already know how
digital centre, like Perpusakaan Desa, a collaborate with agencies from out of
to use Instagram and TikTok. However,
village library, and provide participants state to reach and inspire even more
when it comes to payment, they need
with training. It is a lot better entrepreneurs.
help,” she says.
compared to years ago,” she asserts.

The Inside View
Cultural Digital Ambassadors:

Towards Promoting
Regional Unity in ASEAN
Nurul Aishah Ab Raman

Social Media Coordinator, Department of Communications, Cultural digital ambassadors visit
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia a wet market for their “Sambal
Project Director for ASEAN Cultural Digital Ambassador Story” activity at Selangor
Transformation Programme 2022: Unity in Bytes
T
he Global Data latest report, The ASEAN region with its 10 regional network of Culture Digital
Tourism Destination Market Member States showed its support Ambassadors that can build a
Insight: ASEAN (2021), forecast and solidarity towards the timely sustainable edu-culture ecosystem,
intra-regional tourism in ASEAN to creation of its inaugural Cultural empower youth as future leaders, and
grow by 5 per cent, from 2019 to Digital Ambassadors’ network by foster cultural enthusiasts through
2024, to reach 56.6 million visitors. participating in the ASEAN Cultural social media. The delegates involved
Now more than ever, it is a time Digital Ambassador Transformation were asked to update their social
for ASEAN countries to be united, Programme 2022: Unity in Bytes held media accounts with creative content
in Selangor and Melaka, Malaysia that could spread Unity in Bytes’
turning challenges into opportunities,
from 17 to 22 June 2022. The project digital footprint across the globe.
leveraging digital connectivity by
was supported by the ASEAN Cultural They kept the social media abuzz
coming together, by bits and bytes.
Fund and was endorsed by the with the usage of hashtags such as
The region’s post-pandemic recovery ASEAN Committee on Culture and #UnityinBytes, #TranscendingCultures,
is an opportunity to create a stronger Information. It was initiated by the #BeyondBorders as well as MOTAC
network of shared interests, economic Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture hashtags #comingbackstronger and
cooperation, and arts and culture (MOTAC) Malaysia with Universiti #ASEAN. The use of hashtags is an
sustainability in the region and Teknologi MARA as the project’s effective social media strategy that
beyond its borders. While we often implementing agency. The organisers increases audience awareness, reach,
hear the use of social media as a hosted 20 ASEAN delegates and one and engagement—all necessary to help
promotional tool in the tourism and ASEAN Secretariat-representative, boost ASEAN’s profile and keep its
culture sectors; the concept of Culture in a 6-day programme of cultural spirit alive among its citizens.
Digital Ambassador might be a unique immersion and activities that were
The delegates were in high spirits as
thought to explore, encapsulating in line with the ASEAN Strategic for
this was their first overseas trip post-
that ethos of ASEAN spirit of unity, Culture and Arts 2016-2025.
pandemic after international travel
cooperation and collaboration as
The objectives of Unity in Bytes restrictions were lifted in April 2022.
evident in its anthem “The ASEAN
2022 were simple—to establish a
Way.”
28
The Inside View
A group photo during the

closing ceremony of Unity in
Bytes 2022 in Melaka
Photo Credit: ©Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia

In the first part of the programme, offered the digital ambassadors a population using smartphones, at 35
held in Selangor, delegates visited a glimpse of Malaysia’s deep history that per cent penetration of users and
community of the Mahmeri aborigines. goes as far back as the 14th century growing rapidly, ASEAN has the chance
The Cultural Digital Ambassadors under the Malay Sultanate. to be a leader in the creation of new
were introduced to local cultures, digital services and producing digital
arts, and crafts. The highlight of their At the seminar, the delegates had to leaders. It is evident that concerted
gastronomic adventure was sampling present creative content, showcasing efforts such as the designation of 20
the local sambal or chilli paste, a their experiences in the host country, Cultural Digital Ambassadors could
food tradition shared among many and strategies to increase their digital foster digital innovation even on a
ASEAN states. Culinary traditions are footprints. Their digital contributions small scale. It is essential for such
recognised as part of a community’s signify their roles as Cultural Digital a programme to be emulated by
intangible cultural heritage. The Ambassadors, which the programme the other ASEAN Member States to
delegates were effervescent in hopes to establish. achieve a universal and meaningful
sharing their local sambal dishes. digital connectivity that would last
For example, the Malaysia delegates ASEAN may have its first batch of through generations.
presented sambal petai ikan bilis or Cultural Digital Ambassadors, but Unity
chilli with bitter peas and anchovies, in Bytes ought to be nurtured as a The views and opinions expressed here are
and the Myanmar delegates presented programme that cultivates agents of those of the author, not those of ASEAN or its
Myanmar sambal with mohinga, which change in the industries known to be members.
uses dry chilli powder for heat. essential for ASEAN—tourism, the arts,
ASEAN Cultural Digital Ambassador
and culture.
The Universiti Teknologi MARA also Transformation Programme 2022: Unity in
conducted an ASEAN Seminar on Bytes Full Video Report
Cultural understanding cannot be
History, Heritage and Resilience on advanced through discussions and
20 June 2022 in Melaka, a state academic discourses alone. Moving https://www.youtube.com/
in Malaysia famous for its cultural forward, by 2025, a digital revolution watch?v=BGbazIA8s5I
heritage attractions. The city, inscribed may have completely changed ASEAN
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, society. With a sizable and young

Special Section
A Salute to a Steadfast Leader
Dato Lim
Jock Hoi
14th ASEAN Secretary-General
2018-2022
When Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock

Hoi took on the mantle of leadership in
2018, his goals for the ASEAN Secretariat
were clear: to be proactive, provide better
support to Member States, and move
along the implementation of the ASEAN
Community blueprints.
He ends his 5-year tenure with these

goals fulfilled.
30
Special Section
“
Beyond these achievements, Dato Lim
has left an indelible imprint on ASEAN.
His clarity of thought, precision in
communication, and the discharge of his
duties with thoroughness, distinction,
and quiet dignity are hallmarks of his
leadership and contributions, which will
remain with us for many years to come.
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Secretary-General Dato Lim also

(ASCC) Council Chair Hang Chuon provided a steady hand in dealing with
Naron said, “Dato Lim Jock Hoi’s crises affecting the ASEAN population.
tenure as Secretary-General of ASEAN As the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance
coincided with an exceptional and Coordinator, he steered the emergency
challenging time for ASEAN and the and humanitarian response to Member
world as countries navigate difficult States devastated by climate-related
internal conditions, major geopolitical and other natural disasters, led efforts
shifts, demographic challenges, to support the repatriation of Rohingya
and the COVID-19 pandemic. These Communities in Rakhine State since
developments presented opportunities 2018, and coordinated humanitarian
for ASEAN to foster dialogue and to lay aid to Myanmar since 2021.
out solutions to prepare for a strong
post-pandemic emergence and a more Through Secretary-General Dato Lim’s
stable ASEAN socio-cultural future. guidance, the ASCC is also closer
Dato Lim’s interventions and guidance to achieving its vision of a people-
have shaped the development of many centred, socially responsible, inclusive,
important ASCC outcomes.” and resilient community. He attended
meetings in all ASCC sectors, and he
Secretary-General Dato Lim’s skilful has been instrumental in creating
management of ASEAN during more responsive regional health
the COVID-19 pandemic—and the mechanisms, improving cooperation on
unprecedented challenges it caused— climate and environmental challenges,
has been particularly noteworthy. He prioritising future of work readiness,
mobilised resources, supported the promoting quality and inclusive
rapid and coordinated response, and education, supporting women and
helped prepare for the post-pandemic youth empowerment, and stronger
recovery of Member States without awareness of ASEAN identity.
compromising the safety of the ASEAN
Secretariat. Deputy Secretary-General Phanthavong
said, “Beyond these achievements,
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim has left an indelible imprint
for ASCC Ekkaphab Phanthavong on ASEAN. His clarity of thought,
noted, “While the COVID-19 pandemic precision in communication, and
has disrupted our lives and work, the discharge of his duties with
Secretary-General Dato has been an thoroughness, distinction and quiet
anchor for ASEAN and the ASEAN dignity are hallmarks of his leadership
Secretariat. He ensured that our work and contributions, which will remain
remained effective in supporting our with us for many years to come.”
Member States. At the same time,
he also showed the utmost care and
support to ensure that our families and
all of us remain safe and healthy.”

Special Section
CONVERSATIONS
Photo Credit: © DigineeringCreations / Shutterstock
Accelerated Digital
Adoption in ASEAN
Meet some of the region’s
enterprising start-ups,
innovators, and entrepreneurs
32
Conversations
“ Sometimes work is not available, which means

no cash flow. So as a freelancer, I have months
where I got many projects and got paid, and
some months with no project at all. But I use
those times to improve my system and work
on my branding and self-promoting.
Platform-based Work
“I can say that working as an use those times to improve my system
Rusda
independent contractor gives me the and work on my branding and self-
ability to grow fast, to build my own promoting.
brand and company. Everything I do
really matters and I do my best all the
Salaeh
“thai nationals who are freelancers
time because it is my own ‘baby.’ are able to apply for basic social
security and health insurance from
“I love to work from anywhere. mostly, the government. for my retirement,
I work from home. the valuable thing
about freelancers like me is that I you with a retirement plan, whether
can spend time with my family, my you are receiving a monthly income
Professional children. I do not want to lose every or through an investment plus bonus
second (of my time with them). plan. Second, I am also investing in
translator cooperative business and it earns
“I have clients from several countries, a yearly dividend. I invest in local
from outside thailand. there are businesses, such as a mini-mart.
Rusda Salaeh, a 29-year-old mother of clients from the United States, dubai
three, is a freelance translator based and Saudi Arabia; and from Asia, there C “ oVId-19 crisis opened (people’s
in thailand. She has been working as are clients from malaysia, Brunei, eyes) to the world of freelancers.
a professional linguist-translator for Indonesia, Singapore, and China. I People now get a better understanding
eight years, since graduating with a worked with big companies in thailandof what it means to ‘work from home’
master’s degree in linguistics from and abroad, in various industries such since it has become a normal thing
Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia. Rusda now.
uses the thai-based digital freelance government.
platform, fastwork, and various social
“the thai government should support
media channels to market her skills
“digital platforms play an important people who work as professional
and services, which include translating
role for freelance workers like me. freelancers and the growth of the
thai text into Indonesian, malaysian,
many platforms help to deal with freelance community. (one, by)
or English, and vice versa. She believes
issues between freelancers and helping to create a culture where
that freelance or gig work comes
customers, such as conditions and people recognise freelance work as
with many advantages, but also has a
payment. It helps to protect the rights a real job, not just a hobby. (two),
downside, and that the pandemic gave
of both sides fairly. the government should provide
many people a taste of what it’s like to
infrastructure support for professional
do freelance work.
“Working freelance, it means you do freelancers. (for example), the most
everything on your own, including expensive things that I have to
setting your own salary rate, setting pay monthly or yearly are software
aside a health care budget, and doing
branding, promoting, and marketing. trados, google cloud system, slack,
Because of this, you have to learn a and so on.”
lot. It is good for me, but may not be
for others.
Interviewed by Joanne B. Agbisit. The
“Sometimes work is not available, conversation has been condensed and edited
for clarity. The views and opinions expressed
freelancer, I have months where I got in the text belong solely to the interviewee
many projects and got paid, and some
months with no project at all. But I position of ASEAN.

Conversations
After completing high school in Expansion has been a bit slow due
Singapore as an ASEAN Scholarship to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we’re
awardee, Gary Evano Daniel headed looking to expand to Sumatra and Bali
home to Jakarta to continue his next year.
education. With a penchant for
business and good food, he dived into “We pushed our digital ads during
Jakarta’s food scene with his friends. COVID-19, especially as all the
Gary is now the managing director of (advertisement) budget was
Puyo Group, an F&B brand aggregator pushed into digital. From the sales
with brands like Puyo Desserts and perspective, COVID-19 hit us quite
HAKA Dimsum Shop. heavily. We were left with only 10 per
cent of the stores open because most
Gary put his experience in business of our stores were in shopping malls.
operations and marketing to good Only the ones near supermarkets or
use by quickly adapting to the use inside hospitals were open.
of digital technologies during the
COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, “Before COVID-19, our online sales
which helped his businesses stay were only about 20 per cent or less,
E-Commerce afloat and even grow. The 29-year- but during COVID-19, it’s almost 100
Gary
old entrepreneur is now keen on per cent. We needed to enlarge the
helping other businesses to seize size of our online sales. We really
the opportunities provided by digital leveraged the use of online platforms,
technologies to similarly expand their and we made sure that the stores that
Evano
business. Gary shares his experience were still open could become a hub to
with The ASEAN. deliver to a broader area.
Daniel
“When we started Puyo, there was no “We shifted our narrative to become
Photo Credit: © Haka Dimsum

top of mind brand for pudding. We a stay-at-home snack and care
saw the gap in the market and tried package, something that you can easily
to sell it to our friends and family. consume at home or send to a relative
We opened stalls in bazaars and who is down with COVID-19. The
events. We also sold it online through success of the campaign could already
Partner and Instagram and the feedback was really be seen during the Omicron wave
earlier this year. While some malls
good. Now we have 130 stores around
Managing Director, Java over the span of nine years. It’s a were closed and the operating hours
slow and organic growth because we were cut short, our sales actually went
Puyo Group don’t have investors or franchisees. higher than before.
34
Conversations
“The digital approach has been very “(Without the help of digital “In 2015, I was an ASEAN Youth Festival
important for us. Instagram was the technology) It’s impossible if you want delegate from Indonesia and the
only communication channel between to expand. With the help of digital ASEAN Economic Community was so
us and the customer. Whenever tools, I can have the visibility of all the highlighted. But I think the realisation
we have a new product or a new outlets without needing to be there. for small businesses like us is not
store, we announce it through social It’s not 100 per cent the same as being there yet. We haven’t seen Filipino
media. Instagram was very helpful there in person, but 75 per cent is brands in Indonesia or the other way
for us during the six years before the better than 25 or 0 per cent. around. I think we need to have that
pandemic, and even more important because it will broaden the market.
after the pandemic. Now, we added “HAKA Dimsum only accepts digital We can bring ASEAN to the world
TikTok as our second focus on social payment. We have reduced accepting because they already have ASEAN as
media platforms. cash because it is not safe. If the a training ground for businesses. The
customer only has cash, our staff government needs to support local
“Digital technology really helps can assist in the transaction too. We brands to go abroad, and ASEAN can
restaurants as well. During 2021, had incidents in Puyo before where facilitate that.”
probably most of our sales came we were mugged and had a burglar
from online but now it’s back to stealing the cash register.
offline. I think the operation inside
the business is also affected by that “For the future, we need to strengthen Interviewed by Mary Kathleen Quiaño-
change. We also use digital tools to our internal organisation, because Castro and Pricilia Putri Nirmala Sari. The
help our operations. We use QR codes a strong team, a strong financial conversation has been condensed and edited
for ordering, we use ERP (Enterprise standing, and strong operational for clarity. The views and opinions expressed
Resource Planning) system which is procedures are the keys to face in the text belong solely to the interviewee
integrated from end-to-end. The billing another pandemic, if there’s any. Then and do not reflect the official policy or
and everything are integrated in one we need to think about expansion, position of ASEAN.
system. new cities, new brands, and even new
countries. And that’s where ASEAN can
come in.
Soaking in the stunning views of Koh As much as securing taxi rides were
Rong Samloem’s pristine beaches always unpleasant for him, Langda
while feasting on fresh seafood are would dutifully make the trip home
some of Langda Chea’s most cherished every Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben and
memories. The 33-year-old travels other special occasions. After making
whenever he needs to recharge from countless intercity trips, he finally
work. However, the ardent traveller realised: he could do something to
recalls that getting to Cambodia’s make his journey more enjoyable.
gorgeous white sands and scuba diving
spots was once a challenge. Growing While on a five-hour larn ride
up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Langda to Battambang City, he got the
has had some unpleasant experiences inspiration to build an online platform,
during his intercity trips. BookMeBus, so customers can book
seats on a bus or shared taxi ahead
Taking a larn taxi (រថយន្តតាក់ស)៊ី , of time. This way, he thought, the
operated by drivers everyone calls customers would fight for their seats,
Transportation and “uncles,” was the fastest and the not the other way around. During
Connectivity most convenient option to get from the 253-kilometre excursion, Langda
Langda
Phnom Penh to his parent’s hometown convinced the uncle, who was driving
in Battambang City. Larn is a shared him, that it was a feasible idea.
taxi, which usually accommodates 4-5
In 2015, his idea came to fruition, and
Chea
passengers at a time. Langda struggled
with uncles at crowded terminals both drivers and passengers hopped
where they would fight tooth and nail on the BookMeBus platform. Since
for potential customers. Langda says then, many Cambodian travellers
the ordeal made him feel like prey have been enjoying safer and more
Founder, BookMeBus hunted by vultures. comfortable trips by bus, ferry, and

Conversations
taxi. The booking service is now also has a huge potential because economy in the next 10-20 years. They
also available for trips to Viet Nam, we have a lot of local passengers and have started to build the ecosystem.
Thailand, and the Lao PDR. Two tourists in the country. Somehow, I
years after it launched, BookMeBus convinced them. Some of them quit “What ASEAN can do to accelerate
won a gold medal in the start-up their jobs to join me full-time. One digital transformation across the
category of the ASEAN Information of them is my older brother, the co- region, I believe, is by connecting the
and Communications Technology (ICT) founder. BookMeBus has what we have dots. For example, BookMeBus has
Awards. today because of their trust and their found an innovative solution for border
teamwork. crossing and intercity transportation.
“I think my entrepreneurship DNA So how can we scale the business to
came from my father. My father was “Our journey is not without hurdles. a regional level? Maybe Indonesia also
a car dealer. He always took me to In 2019, we tried to expand our office faces the same problem? Or the Lao
his workplace. There, I observed to Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. We PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam? ASEAN
how he worked and convinced his had already signed up several bus can play the role of helping us expand
customers to buy his cars. I continued operators in our system. But then the beyond our country. For us especially,
to go with my father to his workplace, pandemic came. We couldn’t convince it is such a struggle because our
even during high school. Back then, our investors to put in more money, market in Cambodia is pretty small.
I convinced the uncles who worked so we had to lay off a lot of staff.
with my father to try and sell their In 2021, we pivoted the business. I “We have witnessed how start-ups can
cars through online classified ads. At said, ‘we can’t grow tall, so we need positively impact the country. In my
that time, Cambodia had no Facebook, to get fat.’ At that time, we could case, we generate jobs for drivers and
so I wanted to help them get the not expand our business to other bus companies while also attracting
best benefit from digital platforms. countries, so we needed to leverage more tourists to visit. It opens more
Eventually, many of these uncles asked our market in Cambodia. Eventually, opportunities. We need to work
me to do their listing for them. we did a joint venture with a big together among ASEAN members.
logistics company and entered the Innovative ideas can have more impact
“It was around 2014, and I had already e-commerce business. Now, we have on creating more jobs. They can also
abandoned BookMeBus’s initial two children: BookMeBus and VTenh, make our lives a lot easier.”
concept for two years before I decided an e-commerce platform.
to quit cold turkey from my job. At that
time, no one in Cambodia understood “Unlike in 2014, it is easier for a
start-ups yet. I joined a hackathon young start-up to build a company Interviewed by Ixora Tri Devi. The
to explore more about my plan. After right now. The tech adaptation is conversation has been condensed and edited
it kicked off, I asked for support already happening. The market is for clarity. The views and opinions expressed
from my family and friends. I told ready, and locals are more adaptive to in the text belong solely to the interviewee
them other than solving the intercity technology. Recently, the government and do not reflect the official policy or
transportation issues, this concept also set a plan for growing the digital position of ASEAN.
36
Conversations
Conversations
Artificial Intelligence
Chai Kok
Chin, PhD
Founding Member
and CEO, NEUON AI
When we travel, it is almost inevitable the use of this technology beyond and the rakyat (citizens) who want to
to hit some potholes on the road. As Sarawak. be listened to. In this exhibition, we
passengers, bumpy rides that jolt us want to get more exposure and get
“Sarawak is one of the biggest states
out of sleep can be quite unpleasant people to know about us.
in Malaysia. Looking at the road
and even hazardous.
network, we can see that it is huge “Now RoadPlus has been scaled
Thirty-three-year-old Chai Kok Chin and scattered. Under the Zero Pothole to other applications. For example,
says this is a problem in his hometown Initiative, they need to be fixed within we have a camera that records and
in Sarawak, Malaysia, so he sought to 24 hours. How do you ensure the processes traffic conditions for the
remedy it for the sake of comfort and trackability of zero potholes? It is traffic impact assessment. Of course,
safety. difficult for the local authorities to do they have had an automated system
the monitoring. before. However, the solution offered
Chai and his team at NEUON
by international companies is relatively
developed RoadPlus, which uses “By talking to the authorities, we
expensive. In contrast, we can bring
artificial intelligence (AI) to detect understand this problem statement
down the cost and make more
and report potholes. This technology and where we can leverage our AI
customisation.
makes it easier for authorities to computer vision technology to solve
monitor road conditions and dispatch this problem. We devise a solution “Next, we want RoadPlus to make
repair crews, especially under the Zero where we can track the initiative’s actionable road data. Not only to
Potholes Initiative. RoadPlus is also implementation. preview but to help us take action. For
designed to reduce traffic congestion example, future RoadPlus could tell
“All we need is for a person to mount
and improve connectivity. Chai you if the road ahead is damaged and
their cell phone in their car, turn on
believes that better and safer roads you need to act. We hope to achieve
our app, and then it will scan the road
can lead to higher productivity. that soon, but for now, we are focusing
condition as they ride. After that, we
on working with the Zero Pothole
The team introduced the technology systematically record all data in our
Initiative, managing the traffic flow,
at MyHackathon 2020, a Malaysian log, which everybody can monitor
and helping the municipalities.”
Ministry of Science, Technology, and easily. All this data is now consolidated
Innovation competition to look for in a cloud platform accessible
innovative ideas and solutions that anywhere at any time.
would benefit Malaysians. RoadPlus
“We are passionate about this
became one of the winners. Interviewed by Joanne B. Agbisit and Ixora Tri
mobility issue. We want to keep the
Devi. The conversation has been condensed
Now, Chai and his team continue road safe for everyone. It is not only
and edited for clarity. The views and opinions
to work with municipalities across the government’s responsibility. All
expressed in the text belong solely to the
Sarawak to mainstream the initiative. stakeholders need to work together.
They participated in the ASEAN- As technology providers, we serve interviewee and do not reflect the official
India Start-Up Festival in Cibinong, as the middle person to connect the policy or position of ASEAN.
Indonesia, in October 2022 to promote government, which requires a solution,

Conversations
Digital Solutions
Fintech Unlocks
Financing for Women
Entrepreneurs
Joanne B. Agbisit
Associate Editor, The ASEAN
Department
Women-led micro and small-sized

enterprises in Cambodia can now keep
track of their finances through an easy-to-
use bookkeeping app, Kotra Riel.
Kotra Riel is a mobile app that lets business owners with

little to no accounting background record their daily sales
and expenses and produce basic financial reports in two
currencies, Rial and US dollars. The app runs on iOS and
Android platforms and is in both Khmer and English.
The app was developed by SHE (Support Her Enterprise)

Investments, a social enterprise based in Cambodia whose
mission is to “support women micro-small entrepreneurs
to scale up and create long-term social, environmental and
economic impact for people and communities.” Support
comes mainly in the form of training programmes on a
range of entrepreneurial skills, such as financial literacy and
management, marketing, and basic business operations.
Kotra Riel was developed to supplement the financial

literacy training SHE Investments provides to neophyte
entrepreneurs. “We saw the need for this kind of app
because there are a lot of bookkeeping apps in the market,
but most are quite advanced and not tailored to women-
led businesses that are starting as micro-sized and
informal,” explains Keisha Ghani, SHE Investments’ acting
country manager and head of operations.
Ghani says the app could be used online and offline, an

essential feature since many enterprises are operating in
rural areas or outside the city centre. She notes, “For some
apps, you need to have an internet connection to be able
to sync. We made sure that this was a key feature that we
38
Conversations
could use (in the app). Part of that means the interface funding from investors. These, in turn, will allow them to
has to be super simple—what are my expenses, what is my grow their business.
income, and then at the end, it generates a report that you
SHE Investments is seeing early successes. Since the app’s
can compare with your bank account.”
release in February 2021, 8,000 individuals have registered
Ghani adds that the app could be downloaded for free as users, of whom 3,000 are women. Ghani says, “We are
and has no hidden subscription costs for its features. SHE seeing the excitement of women entrepreneurs when they
Investments could offer the app for free because it was see it and how it changes their understanding of financial
developed with the support of the UN Capital Development management…And at the same time, (we’re) getting good
Fund and Khmer Enterprise in Cambodia. “They helped feedback on how we can improve it. This is probably
provide funding for staff time, ongoing maintenance of the everything that we could’ve asked for.”
app to make sure it works,” she says.
As its next step, SHE Investments intends to partner with
Kotra Riel targets the heart of the problem for women in micro-financing institutions to facilitate loans for women.
business—lack of access to financing. Women own 62 per “We partnered with a micro-financing institution called
cent of micro-enterprises and 26 per cent of small and AMK here in Cambodia to pilot test a loan feature,” Ghani
medium-sized enterprises in Cambodia. Yet, only 3 per cent says. “We signed a memorandum of understanding with
have access to formal credit, and even fewer have received them so that they could use the financial records from the
funding from a private investor or venture capital, according Kotra Riel app to consider women for loans. At least 25 loan
to a 2019 study by the International Finance Corporation. applications went into AMK.”
This is partly due to poor accounting systems and a lack of
Ghani says that SHE Investments wants women to have
financial records, the study points out.
the confidence to utilise digital tools in their business. “We
By keeping a record of their business income and expenses want to improve women’s agency overall as key decision-
through the Kotra Riel app, Cambodian women can manage makers, (for women) to make final decisions about the
their cash flow better, create a proper budget, plan for management of their business. So, if Kotra Riel is a tool that
future expenses, and apply for a business loan or raise enables them to do that, then that itself is a great success.”
Digital Solutions
Photo Credit: ©The Simple Sum

Financial Literacy
Made Easy
Ixora Tri Devi
Staff Writer, The ASEAN

Department
Managing personal finances could seem

like solving a complex equation—from
figuring out how to save money without
losing your social life or cutting down
on meal expenses, to dealing with your
parents’ poor financial choices. Looking
for solutions to your everyday money
problems? Online resources like The
Simple Sum are offering informed answers.

Conversations
F
ounder Shirley Crystal Chua says the platform was always been part of their plans and became more apparent
created to improve financial literacy among young after seeing the region’s low levels of financial literacy.
adults and help them create a better future for
“According to an S&P Global Finlit survey, Southeast Asia
themselves. Since 2018, The Simple Sum has been creating
has one of the lowest financial literacy rates in the world.
relatable social media content on personal finance and Only 30 per cent of adults in most countries are financially
investments, subjects that people often ignore or overlook. literate. The condition leads to many making poor financial
“One of the reasons is because personal finance is still not decisions for their daily lives and life milestones,” Chua
a subject taught in school. For many young adults, this is explains.
something they still have to learn on their own. Often, when Although personal finance principles are generally the
they start getting into it, the complex terms and jargon same, Chua asserts that their application sometimes differs
could be overwhelming,” she reveals. for each country. “This is why we have local teams in all
The Simple Sum sees social media as an anchor to get the countries that we have a presence in, to create content
young people interested in learning more about personal that works and is relatable for their specific audience,” she
finance. Once they are hooked, they are directed to the adds.
website, which provides comprehensive information, a Lun adds that financial concerns are different in every
wider range of topics, and easy-to-use financial tools. country. For example, audiences in Singapore look at ways
The scenarios presented in their social media accounts are to make their money work harder. In countries like Malaysia
common but can be confusing for most people. Questions and the Philippines, audiences tend to focus more on
can be as simple as “Should you lend money to your building up their savings.
friend?”—a dilemma that can be costly to one’s personal Still, Lun says countries in the region share some similar
finances and relationships. Managing Editor Seow Kai Lun concerns, “like feeling pressured to spend and have a
believes this dilemma occurs because most adults, young grand wedding or buy a big house even though it may go
and old, consider financial management as either dull or beyond their financial means.” She adds, “usually, when we
difficult to understand and thus choose to avoid the topic. talk about such social pressures, many readers can relate
“The approach that we take at The Simple Sum is to break strongly. We get a similar reception for the career-related
down these concepts into bite-sized pieces while throwing content we create as well.”
in our unique brand of humour to make it more interesting “We also organise webinars and online workshops with
for our audience,” Lun adds. a hands-on approach to help our audience apply this
Lun says that Simple Sum strives to create interesting, knowledge and concepts in their everyday lives. What we
refreshing, and relatable hooks to their narratives and do at The Simple Sum to empower young adults to manage
sometimes uses pop culture references to make people their finances is facilitated by the digitalisation that has
take a second look. “The topics and content that we come taken place in the region and allowed us to reach a wide
up with are also informed by our readers, who engage with audience in Southeast Asia,” Lun states.
us via comments or direct messages. With their permission, As the world gradually relaxes COVID-19 restrictions, The
we sometimes share them as comics with our audience for Simple Sum hopes to engage more audiences on a more
them to benefit too.” personal level through events and in-person workshops.
From its origins in Singapore, The Simple Sum expanded While looking for the right opportunity to expand regional
to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and the Philippines over markets, Chua reveals that the platform is also starting to
the past few years. Chua says that regional expansion has share more learnings about Web3 with its audiences and
plans to go deeper on this front.
40
The Inside View
A Safe Cyberspace
for the ASEAN
Community
The Social Technology Institute, ASEAN

Cybersecurity Skilling Programme’s
Ziarla Mae Malabanan local implementing partner in Thailand,
Project Specialist for ASEAN with Supahrat Juramongkol of Microsoft
Cybersecurity Skilling Programme Philanthropies Asia-Pacific
A
ccording to the 2020 Global people’s rights to online privacy and In response, the ASEAN Foundation,
Digital Report, the average threaten their safety. The negative in collaboration with Microsoft,
internet penetration rate in effects of cyberattacks are not limited launched the ASEAN Cybersecurity
Southeast Asia is 66 per cent. The to financial loss, but also extend to Skilling Programme in February 2022.
COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated threats to life, mental health, and the The programme is committed to
Photo Credit: ©ASEAN Foundation
digital adoption in the region, making disruption of people’s daily lives. combatting cybercrimes in the region
its citizens more reliant on the by raising awareness, increasing
Cybercrime is on the rise.
Internet than ever. The region is knowledge, and upskilling the ASEAN
Cybercriminals have become more
youth on cybersecurity. To achieve
undoubtedly poised to take its position organised as they share their resources
these objectives, ASEAN Foundation
amongst the world’s top digital and expertise. With increasing
has partnered with eleven local
economies. numbers of cyberattacks and an
implementing partners in seven
alarming shortage of cybersecurity
But, such rapid digital disruption has ASEAN-Member States, namely,
professionals, it is essential for
triggered unprecedented cyberattacks Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
different sectors to band together to
in the form of malicious email, identity Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and
address the issue.
theft, and malware, that violate Viet Nam. The programme supports

The Inside View
the ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2020 and

the ASEAN Work Plan on Education
Research
2021-2025. and module FutureReadyASEAN is an online
“As digital technologies become more development learning platform that offers
courses and resources on
interwoven with study and leisure, the digital literacy, programming,
From March to April 2022, the ASEAN
youth are exposed into different types data science, and Microsoft
Foundation conducted a series of
of cyberattacks. Therefore, having a applications. It was jointly
focus group discussions (FGD).
secure cyberspace should be a priority developed by the ASEAN
The FGDs solicited the points of
and necessity for all of us,” said Dr. Foundation, Empire Code and
view of cybersecurity experts and
Yang Mee Eng, Executive Director of Microsoft and was launched in
practitioners, relevant government
the ASEAN Foundation. March 2019. The platform is part
officials, researchers, members
The programme aims to train of the academia, and the youth of the ASEAN Digital Innovation
educators, non-profit trainers, fresh on cybersecurity issues in ASEAN Programme of the ASEAN
graduates, career shifters, and and emphasised the importance Foundation.
the youth across ASEAN to deliver of upskilling the ASEAN youth on
cybersecurity knowledge to 30,000 cybersecurity. ASEAN Foundation also
end-beneficiaries in the region. conducted a cybersecurity survey (Source: https://
participated in by ASEAN youth which futurereadyasean.
The programme has four major revealed their level of awareness and org/)
activities; a baseline research, knowledge, attitude, and practices
development of a learning module, about cybersecurity.
training of trainers, and empowerment
sessions.
The rangers of Girl Guides Association Malaysia

at the launch of the Empowerment Sessions in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Photo Credit: ©ASEAN Foundation
42
The Inside View
Following this successful baseline that will allow us to set up the did not have adequate background
research, the ASEAN Foundation mechanism and the structure for the knowledge on the subject matter,”
worked with ASSIST Creativelab sustainable implementation of our says one of the end-beneficiaries from
and Microsoft to create the Cyber Safe Schools programmes in Pampanga, the Philippines.
learning module “Introduction to the Philippines,” said Ma. Concepcion
Cybersecurity.” The learning module’s T. Sangil, Executive Director of Programme impact
content capitalises on Microsoft’s CyberGuardiansPH.
resources and is grounded on the The ASEAN Foundation is elated to see
A master trainer from that the programme has successfully
results of the baseline research. The
CyberGuardiansPH noted, “As an IT made cybersecurity knowledge
learning module will be added to
practitioner myself, I felt that it is my accessible to ASEAN Youth.
the Future Ready ASEAN Platform
obligation to help the youth through
(futurereadyasean.org) and will “The ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling
education.”
be localised into different ASEAN Programme has allowed the youth
national languages. It will be free and The programme also takes into to appreciate cybersecurity as a tool
accessible to ASEAN youth who want account inclusivity by making sure that to protect themselves online. We
to start their cybersecurity learning there is a gender balance in identifying have master trainers with no IT or
journey. and selecting master trainers and end- STEM backgrounds who realised that
beneficiaries. “I think it is important cybersecurity is not as intimidating as
Training of trainers for girls to empower themselves by it sounds,” says Sangil. She added that
learning new skills so that they know there are master trainers who found
One of the main projects of the ASEAN they can be anything they want to be. a calling to further pursue a career in
Cybersecurity Skilling Programme Girls are no exception to cyberattacks. cybersecurity. This feedback has been
is the training of trainers, a training We are also users of the internet so echoed by different participants across
workshop designed to increase we need to learn these things so we all seven countries.
knowledge and raise awareness of can take an active role in this era
ASEAN youth so that they can protect of new technology,” said Hei Yi Jing, For Michael Nugraha Budiarto, Vice
themselves from cyberattacks. It also a master trainer from Girl Guides President of External Affairs of ASEAN
aims to equip the participants with Association Malaysia. Youth Organisation, raising awareness
basic cybersecurity skills needed to about cybersecurity is a prerequisite
pursue further studies and careers
in cybersecurity. The participants of
Empowerment for the youth to understand what is to
come, allowing them to stay relevant
this type of training are called master sessions in the vast and rapidly developing
trainers because they will be cascading digital world.
After the training of trainers
the knowledge they have learned to
workshops, each local implementing “Through the programme, we
the underserved youth in their local
partner is tasked to host see improvement in the youth’s
communities. Justin Pineda, President
empowerment sessions in the understanding of controlling their
of Pineda Cybersecurity Specialists,
local community. The objective of data privacy and levelling up their
is in-charge of training the master
these sessions is to reach out to knowledge of stalkerware and
trainers in the participating countries.
underserved communities, such spyware. They feel more confident
The ASEAN Foundation is working with as youth who are living in Tier 2 navigating their behaviour online
local implementing partners, which are and Tier 3 cities, with disabilities, and understand better what could
composed of non-profit organisations, from ethnic communities, and from trigger cybersecurity issues within the
non-government organisations, and gender minorities, to educate them organisation,” adds Agita Pasaribu, CEO
academic institutions, in the seven on how to be safe in cyberspace and of Bullyid Indonesia.
ASEAN Member States to roll out the importance of learning about
these workshops. cybersecurity. Since October 2022,
several empowerment sessions led by
Moving forward–The
The 11 civil society organisations and
master trainers have been conducted path to creating a
social enterprises that are helping
the ASEAN Foundation combat
in different cities in the region. safe cyberspace for
cybercrimes are the following: ASEAN
Some of the VIPs who attended the
empowerment sessions include local youth
Youth Organisation, Bullyid Indonesia,
government officials in Indonesia, The ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft’s
Indonesia Mengajar, Girl Guides
national government officials in Learning Module on Cybersecurity
Association Malaysia, Universiti Putra
Thailand, a member of the royal will be launched in November 2022.
Malaysia, CyberGuardiansPH, YGOAL,
family in Malaysia, and directors from ASEAN Foundation will also continue
Inc., Girl Guides Singapore, Social
Microsoft. its public awareness campaign to
Technology Institute, Ai Vet Social
Most of the attendees appreciated the promote the ASEAN Cybersecurity
Enterprise, and TUX Global Institute.
cybersecurity hacks and prevention Skilling Programme and the
“Right from the start when ASEAN cybersecurity course across the 10
tips that ASEAN Foundation has
Foundation invited us to apply ASEAN Member States. The foundation
shared. “What I like about the
for ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling hopes to continue creating a safe
empowerment session is that it was
Programme, we knew that this cyberspace for ASEAN youth through
relevant and useful even for those who
programme will be one of the avenues this initiative.

Viewpoint
Viewpoint
HOW
DIGITAL
TRADE CAN
POWER THE
FUTURE OF
ASEAN
There has never been a

better time to trade with
thriving Southeast Asia.
I
had the pleasure of seeing this first hand on my recent visit
to Phnom Penh for the ASEAN Business and Investment
Summit and the first in-person trade meeting between
ASEAN and the UK, where I was joined by our fantastic Trade
Commissioner Natalie Black to promote the UK interests in
the region.
I spoke to counterparts from countries like Cambodia, the

Philippines and Brunei, as well as UK companies based
here—from Arup to KPMG and Prudential—about growing
their footprint in the region.
By 2027, the IMF forecasts ASEAN’s economy will be the
Greg Hands
4th largest economy in the world behind only India, the
US and China. By 2030, the region’s digital economy
is projected to top $1 trillion. Last year alone, 25 new
Minister of State for Trade unicorns—companies valued at over 1 billion US dollars—
Policy, United Kingdom were created in the region.
44
Viewpoint
Meanwhile, the UK tech sector is More than 350 business and industry Third, we will safeguard businesses
valued at 1 trillion US dollars, only the figures joined to explore the benefits and consumers alike. For businesses,
third country in the world to achieve of expanding into the UK, as well as to we are advocating to prevent
this. It has 130 unicorns, more than seek out investment and partnership unreasonable requests such as the
France and Germany combined, opportunities across the nation. I am disclosure of source code to operate
and the third largest number of excited by the response so far and in a certain market. For consumers, we
decacorns—businesses valued over 10 look forward to welcoming even more encourage good data protection and
billion US dollars—in the world. businesses next year. privacy standards and want to reduce
unsolicited electronic communications
But there is still so much more We are also building closer ties with
(“spam”).
that we can do to work with ASEAN individual nations in the region.
partners to build the digital economies Fourth, we will work with partners
We have digital trade experts on
of the future. to create digital trading systems that
the ground in Indonesia, Singapore
make global commerce run smoothly,
The ASEAN-UK and Thailand to provide market
intelligence, and policy insights, and
including electronic contracts,
partnership nurture the next generation of tech

paperless trading, and electronic
authentication. This will cut costs and
companies.
The UK is the first new ASEAN paperwork, and encourage growth as
Dialogue Partner in 25 years, and we Our new UK-Singapore Digital Economy we emerge from the pandemic.
have put digital trade at the heart of Agreement is a historic first digital
Fifth, we will work with forward-
our relationship. trade deal between a European and
leaning partners to ensure that global
an Asian nation. It sets the rules for
Digital trade ranges from the sale of governance keeps up with the pace
digital trade and enables two leading
goods and services online, such as of technology. As last year’s G7 chair,
tech powerhouses to work closely
food delivery or insurance, to the use we secured assent for the G7 Trade
together as the tech sector evolves.
of high-tech sensors in factories that Ministers’ Digital Trade Principles.
monitor manufacturing quality. Our new UK-Indonesia Roadmap These included our commitment to
will boost trade, investment, tech empowering a full range of businesses
Research from Bain & Company and and security ties as we deepen our to participate in the global economy,
Facebook shows that ASEAN now has partnership in the years to come. It including female entrepreneurs and
over 350 million digital consumers, will create more jobs, and a more micro, small, and medium-sized
with 70 million of them coming online prosperous and more secure region. enterprises (MSMEs).
during the pandemic.
We also held our first Joint Economic These principles are encapsulated
The UK wants to knock down trade and Trade Committee with Thailand in our UK-Singapore Digital Economy
barriers in the digital sector to enable last month and discussed reducing Agreement—the first, we hope, of
companies from the UK and ASEAN to trade barriers with South East Asia’s many similar agreements.
take advantage of the opportunities second-largest economy.
this vast digital consumer base We are clear we want to do much
provides. more in the Asia Pacific—my recent
Last September, we worked with our

Future agreements visit to the region is a testament to
this—and be a vibrant partner that
partners across ASEAN to launch our But this is only the beginning. Our supports innovation, creativity, and
new ASEAN-UK Digital Innovation vision is for the UK to be a global opportunity, building mutual prosperity
Partnership, which will bring Ministers, leader in digital trade, with a network through digital collaboration.
policy makers and tech executives of international agreements that drive
together to discuss how we can productivity, jobs, and growth. The UK stands ready to put the Digital
Photo Credit: ©Department for International Trade, UK

unlock the vast potential of our digital Innovation Partnership in motion.
economies. We also launched a Digital There are five objectives for these Doing so will bring our businesses
Business Challenge for UK start-ups to agreements. closer together, shape digital trade
address ASEAN’s priority challenges. policy to open markets and ensure
First, we want to create open digital
inclusion for all of ASEAN.
This year our Asia Pacific Digital Trade markets with fair regulatory principles.
Network will connect hundreds of These include removing customs
fast-growing UK businesses with duties on electronic transmissions
and measures that inhibit the use of UK business looking for advice
partners across the region.
electronic authentication. on how to export or expand to
Over 40 companies are receiving help Southeast Asia can get in touch
to expand into Southeast Asia from Second, we are championing the free with DIT here: dit.apac@fcdo.
our partners in Tech Nation, ranging flow of data internationally across gov.uk
from cutting-edge AI to apps that cut borders. We are seeking to minimise
food waste. data localisation so that businesses The views and opinions expressed here are
can expand into new markets without those of the author, not those of ASEAN or its
In June, we welcomed our largest-ever having to invest in costly storage members.
delegation from Asia Pacific to London systems before they even have any
Tech Week, Europe’s largest technology customers.
festival.

Shifting Currents
SHIFTING
CURRENTS
ASEAN in Motion
Moving goods and people, and
unlocking the region’s growth
potential
ASEAN tackles supply chain disruptions
and the shipping container crisis
Photo Credit: ©jamesteohart / Shutterstock

ASEAN advances the rights of migrant
workers in the changing world of work
46
Shifting Currents
Shifting Currents
Unboxing:
Tackling ASEAN’s
Container Crisis
Dr. Jonathan Beard, Simon Quail, Dr. Persa Paflioti,
Andrea Lam, Maria Pham, Claire Sharp
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has Maritime transport and container times, and slow ship and container
disrupted supply chains and shipping are key engines of the global circulation.
exposed longstanding structural economy. Around 80 per cent of the
Photo Credit: ©Shutterstock

With demand soaring and supply
issues in the container industry. volume of international trade in goods
constrained, freight rates surged.
Addressing these problems will be is carried by sea. Maritime trade is vital
By the end of 2020, key container
crucial to unlocking the growth and to Southeast Asia’s economic growth.
freight indices, such as the Shanghai
potential of the ASEAN region and The industry, however, has been
Containerised Freight Index, were over
advancing economic integration. severely impacted by the COVID-19
five times 2019 levels and only began
As a response to record high pandemic, with repercussions for
to ease in mid-2022.
households, businesses and industries.
container freight rates, shortage of
Container shipping services in the
empty containers and congestion While the principal products
ASEAN region became unreliable, in
at ports due to COVID-19-related transported by sea in volume terms
part because vessels were redeployed
disruptions, the ASEAN Secretariat are bulk commodities, higher-
to more lucrative Asia-US or Asia-
(Transport Division) and Thailand, value container freight accounts for
Europe routes. Slow container
with support from the Australian about 60 per cent of the total value
circulation left the region’s exporters
Government through Partnerships of seaborne trade. However, the
with a shortage of empty containers.
for Infrastructure (P4I), initiated a pandemic has tested the resilience
These issues rippled through port and
practical study to promote container and adaptability of this trade.
hinterland operations, causing delays
circulation in the ASEAN region. Initial shutdowns and a subsequent
throughout supply chains.
This initiative is a Priority Economic unexpected demand rebound have
resulted in supply and demand shocks, High freight rates have squeezed
Deliverable for Cambodia’s ASEAN
leading to knock-on effects on global importers’ margins or were passed on
Chairmanship in 2022.
supply chains. to consumers through higher prices.
On 16 October 2022, the 28th Moreover, in regions facing service
At the outbreak of the pandemic in
ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) delays and a lack of empty containers,
2020, economies worldwide slowed.
Meeting adopted the Implementation exporters have suffered delivery delays
Fiscal stimulus responses generated
Framework on Enhancing Container and even cancelled orders.
massive demand for consumer goods,
Processing and Circulation in the
while spending on services was
ASEAN Member States, including
its Action Plan, which is based on
artificially constrained. In addition, the
high demand for other goods, such as
A dynamic response
the empirical findings of the study
and provides practical strategies
pandemic-related medical supplies, from ASEAN
drove a rapid recovery in cargo In response to the pandemic,
and measures to assist the ASEAN
demand. ASEAN Member States undertook
Member States in enhancing container
circulation. Implementing these By mid-2020, the swift economic initiatives including moving customs
agreed actions is expected to promote rebound was impacting shipping and services online; working to ease port
the resilience of regional container supply chains worldwide. As a result, congestion; sharing inter-terminal
shipping, maritime transport logistics ports became bottlenecks due to resources; collaborating with
and multimodal transport, which in labour shortages and intermittent terminals for the periodic release
turn, would bolster intra-ASEAN and shutdowns, leading to port and of non-essential cargoes; improving
international trade flows in the region. hinterland congestion, long vessel wait digitalisation of workflows; expanding

Shifting Currents
working hours; and implementing more on addressing the more structural coordination and digital connectivity
efficient customs examinations (either local issues impacting container between supply chain stakeholders
off-dock or through more effective use circulation. Resolving these will could enhance container circulation
of X-ray machines). improve supply chain performance, outside the port gate.
irrespective of short to medium-term Investigate the potential for
market dynamics, and prepare the
Looking forward ASEAN region to better deal with any
container manufacturing in
ASEAN. Due to the concentration
Container supply chain disruptions future supply chain shocks. of the container manufacturing
should ease over the short to medium industry in China, there could be
term as demand softens and supply
improves, with many new container
Structural issues a case for developing a regional
container production hub. Recent
vessels entering the market in 2023 COVID-19 has exposed some of the announcements of new facilities
and 2024. structural issues within the logistics in Viet Nam suggest these could
be commercially viable in suitable
sector in ASEAN.
This would have flow-on impacts for locations where production costs
freight rates, which are already falling Planning and delivery of port are low and there is high export
and could decline further. However, capacity and hinterland connectivity demand that requires empty
these may remain above pre-pandemic vary across Member States. In containers.
levels if shipping lines focus on some locations, infrastructure has
Enhance customs process
maintaining rates rather than chasing been delayed or developed in a
resiliency. In most countries,
market share as they have done in fragmented fashion, with limited
customs offices have a role in tariff
previous recoveries. economies of scale. This impedes
collection and Key Performance
the enhancement of maritime
Such improvements are, however, Indicators (KPIs) around revenue
connectivity and exacerbates
generation. Governments could
by no means guaranteed. Visible container circulation issues.
consider reviewing customs
headwinds include conflict in Europe,
Many Member States have struggled KPIs, with a greater focus on
continued COVID disruptions in
to access empty containers driving container movements and
China, and labour shortages in many throughout the pandemic. ASEAN improving operational efficiency.
economies—all of which continue to does not currently have any Member States that have provincial
impact global supply chains. shipping container manufacturing customs offices could benefit
All of these reinforce the need for capabilities. from this, as revenue recognition
governments to think very carefully between provinces is often a
Allowing international vessels to
hindrance to efficient cargo
about any short-term market move empty containers has helped
movements.
interventions. One consideration is facilitate their repositioning, but
the timing of any fiscal support to this still requires one-off licences in The COVID-19 pandemic has had
develop domestic shipping lines as an some Member States. considerable impact on supply chains
insurance against temporary service within the ASEAN region and around
Despite the many improvements
removal by international lines. Such the world, and has brought long-
in trade facilitation across ASEAN,
intervention could, over the medium- standing structural issues within
container circulation issues are being
term, prove both costly and reactive. compounded by limited coordination the industry to the forefront of
With many new vessels due to be and could be addressed by enhanced policy decision-making. Successfully
delivered and freight rates easing, a coordination between different addressing these issues and increasing
wait and see approach to domestic customs regions within Member the resilience of ASEAN’s trade
fleet expansion would be prudent States. infrastructure will be central to
and help already struggling domestic unlocking the region’s future growth
economies and government balance The current crises present an
and economic potential and advancing
sheets. opportunity to address some of the
economic integration.
region’s structural issues and position
Market intervention to control prices ASEAN for future success. Member
may also be counterproductive. States could: Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is an
Measures, such as capping shipping
rates, would likely cause shipping Improve port capacity and Australian Government initiative partnering
hinterland connectivity. Congested with Southeast Asia to drive sustainable,
lines to divert services to more
transhipment hubs across Asia have inclusive, and resilient growth through
commercially viable routes. However,
provided an opportunity for ASEAN quality infrastructure. P4I partners with
as market concentration becomes
mid-tier ports to attract more Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao PDR, Malaysia,
more visible, ASEAN could work
direct calls. To capitalise on this, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste,
with international partners to ports must provide connected and
increase coordination against further Vietnam and the ASEAN. Delivered through
competitive port capacity ahead of
consolidation in the liner shipping a single team, P4I is led by the Australian
time. Better hinterland connectivity
industry. would assist in moderating Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
container circulation issues during in collaboration with EY, Adam Smith
As the current disruptions are
periods of high demand or service International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti
unpredictable, it is important to focus
disruption. Additionally, improved One.
48
Shifting Currents
Shifting Currents
ASEAN Advances
Migrant Workers’
Rights in the
Changing World
of Work
Carl Rookie O. Daquio
Photo Credit: ©bannafarsai_Stock / Shutterstock
Mega Irena
Senior Officer, Labour and Civil
Head, Labour and Civil Service Division
Service Division
Department
Department
L
abour migration is a global phenomenon. Every year, ASEAN community that is socially responsible and has the
millions of workers migrate outside their home well-being and livelihood of the people, including migrant
countries in search of better opportunities for higher- workers and their families, as a priority.
paying jobs in the face of limited productive employment in
their home countries. This is an enduring narrative amidst ASEAN’s commitment to place the well-being of migrant
workers high in its development policy agenda was
regional integration, digital and greening transformations,
solidified in the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and
demographic transitions, and climate change.
Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers signed by the
As of 2020, ASEAN is home to a total of 10 million migrant ASEAN Leaders in 2017. The ASEAN Consensus sets forth
workers, with more than seven million being from the the shared and balanced responsibilities of both sending
region. Women constitute 48 per cent of intra-ASEAN and receiving states in the entire migration process. It also
migrant workers, an increase of 2 per cent since three stipulates the fundamental rights of migrant workers and
decades ago. their family members and the specific rights of migrant
workers.
Labour migration has a far-reaching impact on the socio-
economic development of both countries of origin and Over the years, ASEAN has taken regional actions in the
destination. Labour market pressures are lessened as areas of education/information, protection, enforcement,
migrant workers fill up labour market demands in countries legal recourse, and reintegration. At the national level,
of employment while reducing unemployment rates in each Member State has also instituted its own policies
home countries. At the household level, remittances of and initiatives. A standard self-assessment tool has been
migrants elevate their families’ quality of life. developed to evaluate these initiatives. The second self-
assessment is ongoing and expected to identify areas of
As the people pillar, it is the ASEAN Socio-Cultural mutual learning and improvement.
Community’s (ASCC) role to realise the shared vision of an

Shifting Currents
“
Ass women migrants are disproportionately represented
A
in lower-paid service sectors, such as domestic and
care work, their contribution to ASEAN’s regional
development is often not recognised.
Initiatives to improve migration the Philippines, the project aims to curate and translate
Photo Credit: ©Dani Daniar / EyeEm / Getty Images
information from across the ASEAN Member States into

policies and governance several national languages for the benefit of migrant
workers.
Under the coordination of Viet Nam, ASEAN carried out the
Comparative Study on Laws and Policies in the Management
of Migrant Workers in ASEAN in 2021 to assess the
configuration of immigration policies and related laws in
Increasing migrant workers’
the region pertaining to the entry, stay, and exit of migrant resilience to crises
workers across all skill levels. It identified gaps in the
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic
regulatory frameworks and provided recommendations for
slowdown since 2020 have brought health risks, insecurity,
improving the governance of labour migration in the region.
declining work conditions, income loss, and unemployment.
As women migrants are disproportionately represented in Migrant workers are among the least protected and most
lower-paid service sectors, such as domestic and care at-risk workers. ASEAN is not new to such crises. The
work, their contribution to ASEAN’s regional development region has experienced various wide-scale public health
is often not recognised. ASEAN conducted the Regional emergencies, economic downturns, and natural disasters in
Study on Women Migrant Workers in the Laws and Policies the past decades. While each crisis is unique in scale and
of ASEAN Member States analysing the legal protections impact, several lessons can be learned from past responses
available to women migrant workers. The study revealed to ensure a safe and orderly migration.
promising practices on gender-responsive migration laws
ASEAN’s economic growth is forecasted by the Asian
and policies.
Development Bank in April 2022 to bring about a strong
Under the coordination of Indonesia, the Regional Study recovery by 5.2 per cent next year, so the demand for
on Migrant Workers’ Right-Based Standard Employment migrant workers is also expected to increase in the near
Contract for Domestic Work in ASEAN is ongoing. The future. Therefore, safe and regular migration with effective
study examines the conditions and existing employment and coherent governance are crucial in the face of these
contracts of migrant domestic workers across the region. adversities. Guided by this commitment, the 15th ASEAN
Findings and recommendations aim to strengthen the Forum on Migrant Labour in October 2022 brought together
overall labour migration governance systems by protecting governments, trade unions, employers’ organisations, and
migrant domestic workers in employment contracts and civil societies to discuss innovations to better protect
harmonising national migration-related legal frameworks. and support migrant workers in the much-anticipated
resumption of labour migration in our region.
Recognising the different immigration, labour, and other
related laws in the countries of employment prior to In this context, the ASEAN Secretariat also initiated the
departure, multimedia educational materials have been ASEAN Migration Outlook to provide an analysis of recent
developed under the Public Campaign on Safe and Fair migration movements and the prospects for rehabilitating
Migration in ASEAN project. Under the coordination of labour migration, and enhance our preparedness and
50
Shifting Currents
Shifting Currents
resilience for future shocks and crises. Launched in July As the world of work evolves, the existing approaches and
Photo Credit: ©EyeEm / Getty Images

2022, the Outlook contains recommendations to establish mechanisms governing labour migration need adaptation to
a common procedure or protocol on the return and sustain effectiveness. Much has been done at the ASEAN
reintegration of migrant workers, and improve migrant level and yet, the future brings with it uncertainties that
workers’ access to social security benefits. challenge us to gear up. We learned from this pandemic,
and many lessons strengthened us in building a resilient,
In alignment with the Outlook’s recommendations, an responsive, and inclusive ASEAN Community.
ASEAN Guideline on the Protection of Migrant Workers in
Crisis Situations will be developed under Indonesia’s ASEAN
Chairmanship next year. Such a rights-based and gender-
sensitive Guideline is expected to enhance the capacity of The various studies may be downloaded from the following links:
duty bearers in responding to future crises and promote a
whole-of-government approach in mitigating their impact ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration
on migrant workers. It will be built upon the principles and of Migrant Workers: https://asean.org/book/asean-
international standards set in the ASEAN Guidelines on guidelines-on-effective-return-and-reintegration-of-
Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers. migrant-workers/
As migrants’ ability to recover and rebuild after personal

or societal crises hinges on their access to adequate ASEAN Migration Outlook: https://asean.org/book/asean-
social security benefits, ASEAN has conducted a Study migration-outlook/
on Portability of Social Security Rights of Migrant Workers
between ASEAN Member States led by Thailand. The study Comparative Study on Laws and Policies in the
findings guided the crafting of the ASEAN Declaration on Management of Migrant Workers in ASEAN : https://
Portability of Social Security Benefits for Migrant Workers asean.org/book/comparative-study-on-law-and-
in ASEAN led by Cambodia as ASEAN Chair this year. policies-in-the-management-of-migrant-workers-in-
The Declaration will pave the way for Member States to asean/
work towards bilateral or multilateral agreements for the
cross-border transferability of social security benefits that
Study on Portability of Social Security Rights of Migrant
migrant workers are entitled to. The principles and practical
Workers between ASEAN Member States: https://asean.
steps to develop such agreements will be laid out next year.
org/book/study-report-on-the-portability-of-social-
Overall, reaping the benefits and opportunities presented by security-rights-between-asean-member-states/
disruptions in this changing world of work will not happen
overnight. It requires a continuing process of self-evaluation
and improvement that should involve all stakeholders for
effective results.

Snapshots
SNAPSHOTS
The 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits
ASEAN A.C.T. (Addressing Challenges

Together): Cambodia’s Chairmanship
concludes
Celebrating 45 years of ASEAN-EU

Dialogue Partnership
Photo Credit: ©Mega Bintang / Shutterstock

The ASEAN Artists Residency
Programme in Dubai: Finding Home
Away from Home
52
Snapshots
Chairman’s Statement
of the 40th and 41st
ASEAN Summits
We, the Association of Southeast Asian Centrality consolidated, and ASEAN’s active contribution to
regional peace and stability duly recognised in accordance
Nations (ASEAN), gathered for the 40th with ASEAN’s values and principles as enshrined in the
and 41st ASEAN Summits on 11 November ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
We also acknowledged the steady progress in ASEAN’s
2022 under the Chairmanship of the
economic integration and regional connectivity with the
Kingdom of Cambodia. The Summits were enhanced capacity of ASEAN to adapt to the changing
chaired by Samdech Akka Moha Sena regional and global dynamics. We commended active efforts
to promote ASEAN awareness, identity and visibility. We
Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the
were gratified by the achievements of ASEAN in contributing
Photo Credit: ©ASEAN Secretariat
Kingdom of Cambodia and convened in to the global cause for peace, stability and sustainable
accordance with the ASEAN Charter. development. We welcomed and encouraged ASEAN’s
continued efforts in enhancing its institutional capacity and
W
e reiterated our support for Cambodia’s effectiveness to better respond to changing circumstances.
ASEAN Chairmanship and welcomed ASEAN’s
commendable efforts in achieving “ASEAN A.C.T.:
The full statement is available at https://asean.org/wp-
Addressing Challenges Together”, the theme of ASEAN for
content/uploads/2022/11/01-Chairmans-Statement-of-
2022. We were encouraged by the progress made in the
the-40th-and-41st-ASEAN-Summits-rev.pdf
realisation of ASEAN’s priorities in 2022. We affirmed that
ASEAN’s unity and solidarity were strengthened, ASEAN

Snapshots
The 28th ASEAN Socio-

Cultural Community
Council Meeting
Productive
Year in
Addressing
Challenges
Together
Dinita Setyawati Pricilia Putri Nirmala Sari

Senior Officer, ASCC Analysis Division Officer, ASCC Analysis Division
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

Department Department
T
The ASEAN Socio-Cultural he meeting was chaired by Dr. of digital technology, the development
Hang Chuon Naron, the ASCC of crisis-ready public health and
Community (ASCC) Council Council Chair and Cambodia’s social protection systems, and the
Minister of Education, Youth, and strengthening of the education sector
held the 28th ASCC Council and skills development.
Sports. ASCC Council Ministers, ASEAN
meeting in Phnom Penh, Member States representatives, and
ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim The council commended the broad
Cambodia on 13 October range of ASCC outcome documents
Jock Hoi were in attendance.
2022—its first in-person that would be endorsed to the
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech ASEAN Leaders at the 40th and 41st
meeting in two years. The Techno Hun Sen, in his opening ASEAN Summits in November. It was
remarks, stated that to strengthen emphasised that the ASCC outcome
meeting discussed the resilience and sustainable socio- documents under Cambodia’s ASEAN
economic development and recovery, Chairmanship 2022 theme “ASEAN
strategic direction for ASCC
ASEAN must intensify cooperation A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together”
and its cross-pillar and and pay greater attention to the were timely, as ASEAN is doubling its
protection and development of human efforts to secure a strong, sustainable,
cross-sectoral work. capital. According to him, this could and inclusive post-pandemic recovery.
be achieved through wider adoption
54
Snapshots
The key topics and recommendations actions in response to the COVID-19

discussed at the meeting were crisis, prepare for a robust post-
the need for the ASCC to intensify pandemic recovery, and prepare
efforts to enhance social, human and ASEAN people for the future of work.
sustainable development, strengthen
AMS’ collective efforts to build Moreover, Dr. Hang Chuon Naron
resilience and preparedness for future acknowledged the Economic
challenges, innovate institutional Research Institute for ASEAN and
effectiveness, and strengthen cross- East Asia (ERIA) support to ASCC. The
sectoral and cross-pillar coordination. ASEAN Leadership Forum on Rural
Development and Poverty Eradication,

The meeting also commended the and the second research on learning
notable progress made in the ASCC loss in reading and mathematics at the
Blueprint 2025 implementation and primary school level in Lower Mekong
ASCC’s alignment of its activities and countries throughout the pandemic,
sectoral work plans with the ASEAN were some of the activities and
Comprehensive Recovery Framework projects that benefitted from ERIA’s
and Implementation Plan. support.
At the meeting, the council Several events were also held on

appreciated Secretary-General Dato the side of the meeting, including
Lim Jock Hoi for his service as he the inauguration of the Centre for
completes his five-year term of Southeast Asian Studies in Phnom
office at the end of 2022. The council Penh, the 6th ASEAN Youth Video
highlighted the Secretary-General’s Contest, the 1st ASEAN Youth Photo
firm commitment to the ASEAN Competition, and the 1st ASEAN Youth
Charter to mobilise resources and Debate.

Viewpoint
Viewpoint
CELEBRATING
THE PAST,
PREPARING FOR
THE FUTURE
Reflections Ahead
of the ASEAN-EU
Commemorative
Summit
Igor Driesmans
EU Ambassador to ASEAN
56
Viewpoint
Throughout 2022, ASEAN and the European Union have held many great
events in Jakarta, throughout Southeast Asia, and in the cyber sphere,
including a joint photo exhibition, a bike ride, a cultural festival, a comic
strip competition, a series of video reflections by eminent persons along
with a Young Leaders’ Forum. All of these events are connected by a
common thread—celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment
of our Dialogue Partnership that has, over the past decades, come to form
a rich, colourful and multi-layered fabric.
T
hese events are stepping stones instances of blatant disregard for sustainability as dominant features
and a symbolic countdown to international law and humanitarian of our future engagement. From the
the ASEAN-EU Commemorative principles. These developments have EU side, the Global Gateway strategy
Summit, which is due to take place been followed by food and energy will be used as the principle tool for
in Brussels on 14 December. This insecurity and rising inflation affecting enhancing cooperation on these two
meeting promises to be an event of an the whole world. Even worse, climate priorities. Connectivity in all shapes
unprecedented scale, held at a time change has shown no signs of abating and forms—infrastructural, digital and
when our two regions—and indeed as it continues to pose a severe threat people-to-people—will be enhanced
to our planet and our existence. and deepened. And initiatives such
the whole world—are navigating an
as the Green Team Europe Initiative
increasingly challenging landscape. Leaders from member states of in Partnership with ASEAN, our
What is the significance of our the EU, ASEAN, and our respective contribution to the ASEAN Catalytic
upcoming Commemorative Summit, organisations—close to 40 Green Finance Facility, the launch of
and what are we hoping to achieve? people—will gather in Brussels an EU-ASEAN Energy Dialogue, and
against this daunting backdrop the EU-funded Smart Green ASEAN
Before answering this question, let us for a commemorative summit. Cities programme will ensure that
perhaps start by unrolling and peeking Our Commemorative Summit sustainability will be at the core of
at some of the key features of the will be a chance to celebrate our cooperation between Europe and
fabric of ASEAN-EU relations. First achievements—45 years of partnership Southeast Asia.
and foremost, we are the world’s two in integration. More importantly, it will
most successful regional integration also serve as a unique opportunity In lieu of concluding, allow me to
projects and, as such, natural partners to show and prove that ours is a state that there is more to come. We
for cooperation –based on our shared partnership of strategic partners and have side-events, among others, in
belief in multilateralism, international responsible stakeholders who are the run-up to the Commemorative
law, and a realisation that the absolute committed to working together to Summit that will allow our businesses
gains of ever-closer cooperation trump address the most pressing challenges and youths to engage in person, a joint
the relative gains of competition and of today and tomorrow—and to do statement, and a series of concrete
confrontation. We have made the most so in a sustainable manner. With our deliverables that will further enrich the
out of these firm foundations, and shared commitment to multilateralism, fabric of our relations. As we approach
the corresponding achievements are we will also send a strong message the end of our commemorative year,
certainly too long to list. But to name of support to the rules-based we will definitely do so on a high note.
a few, and in no particular order, we international order at a time when it
have been strategic partners since is facing a plethora of challenges. We
December 2020; we are each other’s will also focus on the fundamentals of
For more information about the
third largest trading partner; EU is our cooperation: peace and security
Commemorative Summit, follow the EU
ASEAN’s second-largest source of along with economic cooperation and
Delegation to ASEAN social media channels:
FDI; we have some 20 regular policy trade, which form a long-standing
dialogues that allow us to exchange pillar of our cooperation. We will also Twitter: @EUinASEAN
experiences in a wide range of areas, look into further developing the strong
and to pick a recent development, commonalities between the ASEAN Facebook: @EUinASEAN
we signed the first region-to-region Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the Instagram: @EUinASEAN
Comprehensive Air Transportation EU Strategy for Cooperation in the
Agreement in October. Indo-Pacific, as peace and prosperity YouTube: @EUinASEAN
of this region, with ASEAN at its
Our relations do not, however, exist in Contact: delegation-asean-info@eeas.
centre, remains of utmost importance.
isolation, and this decade has proven europa.eu
to be particularly testing for all of us. Last but not least, our partnership
The views and opinions expressed here are
The hopes of a smooth post-pandemic recognises the need to be forward
those of the author, not those of ASEAN or its
recovery were ruthlessly dashed by looking. With this in mind, we
members.
wars, and we have seen far too many have identified connectivity and

Snapshots
CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF
COOPERATION THROUGH
CULTURE
Building
Understanding
and Cooperation:
The ASEAN-EU
Cultural Festival
The French trio playing at the
Festival’s opening in Jakarta
Katia Maronati
Advancing the European Union’s role in
multilateral fora in Asia
To celebrate the milestone of 45 years The festival took place in the ASEAN cities of Bangkok, Jakarta,
and Phnom Penh, as well as online, from 19 to 25 September
of EU-ASEAN relations, the European
2022. As a flagship cultural brand, it explored the enormous
Union Delegation to the ASEAN, potential and dynamic synergy of intercultural collaborations
together with the ASEAN Secretariat, and artistic co-creations between the two continents.
organised the first-ever ASEAN-EU
Cultural Festival. The festival highlights With the theme Youth Voices, the one-week festival took a
closer look at the youth and brought together young cultural
the value of culture as a vital element
activists from both regions. A new generation of artists shared
in international relations and its role in their ideas and hopes for the future, learned from each other,
building and promoting understanding and built connections, thereby contributing to a stronger
within and between societies. ASEAN-EU relations.
Opening of the Festival at the Institut

Français Indonesia in Jakarta
58
Snapshots
Music overcomes handicapped to be integrated into

society, and the right of migrants to be
behaviours tint it? Do we identify with
our environment?
language barriers treated as human beings.
Featuring videos spanning from
The festival opened in Jakarta As underlined by Emma Benestan, one documentaries to animations and
with a jazz concert that conveyed of the film directors: “No matter our performances, the exhibition centred
the musicians’ passion for new cultural belonging, who we are, where on shared social issues through the
soundscapes and new sonorities, in we come from, we all face the same eyes of the youth: from the macro
which sounds and genres intertwined problems, and this is what unites one consequences of climate change to
and crossed. another as human beings.” the micro impact of local governments
on their communities, and from social
The French trio of Vincent Peirani,
action to cultural justice, with the
Émile Parisien, and Sébastien
Surel, joined by one of the most
The partnership objective of inspiring inclusive thinking
brilliant musicians of the Indonesian through visual arts across borders.
archipelago, Sri Hanuraga, took the The festival showcased artistic

Visual arts were also part of the
audience on a musical journey where excellence and collaborations between
festival. The programme included
traditional Southeast Asian melodies artists in the ASEAN and the EU.
two online exhibitions, a photo
and European original compositions Through cross-regional exchanges
exhibition titled “45 Years of ASEAN-
resonated and formed dialogues, in the cultural field, the festival
EU Dialogue Relations” that gave
overcoming language barriers. strengthened people-to-people links
a historical perspective about the
fruitful cooperation among the two and connectivity between Europe and
In the words of Vincent Peirani: “With
organisations, and the virtual reality Southeast Asia in line with the EU-
music, we can easily communicate,
exhibition, “Butterflies count not ASEAN Strategic Partnership.
even if we don’t speak the same
language. This is a really good way months but moments and have
In the words of Loredana Pazzini-
to meet people and cultures and to enough time.”
Paracciani, curator of the virtual reality
be inspired by culture and people. exhibition: “Culture—and the visual
This last exhibition illustrated the
Music—and art in general—helps to arts in particular—is key to creating
artistic perspectives of a young
connect. We are just a family.” connections between diverse cultures
generation of ASEAN and EU artists
on the idea of nature as a site of and to fostering reflection and mutual
The music programme included
environmental and philosophical support for people to understand each
an online concert which saw Joey
imagination, and on the notion of other. I profoundly believe in art as
Alexander, acclaimed pianist from
sustainability: Is the environment a lingua franca, i.e. a language that
Indonesia, playing with the French
simply the place we live in, or also has a wider and more profound reach
accordionist Vincent Peirani, a
the place we leave behind? Does than can be achieved just by words, a
premiere duo which was recorded
the term “sustainability” resonate language with a unique ability to move
in France. It also included a jazz
equally in different parts of the world, people regardless of origin, gender, or
and a pop playlist, where musicians
or do cultural and social beliefs and affiliation.”
from different backgrounds created
unexplored soundscapes, while
revisiting traditional melodies.
Films highlighting
the need to respect
rights
The festival celebrated the diversity
and depth of Asian and European
cinema. The films, shown online in
Phnom Penh and Bangkok, reflected
the hopes of a rising generation that
respects individual and collective
rights: the right of women to be
emancipated from the authority of
men, the right of young people to
live in a better world, the right of the
David Daly, the Ambassador of the

European Union to Thailand, and his
wife attend the Festival in Bangkok

Snapshots
ASEAN Artists Residency

Programme 2022
Finding Home Photo Credit: © ASEAN Secretariat / Flickr
Away from Home

Pricilia Putri Nirmala Sari
Officer, ASCC Analysis Division
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department
60
Snapshots
Snapshots
Photo Credit: © ASEAN Secretariat / Flickr

“When
W hen I applied, I proposed a concept of
pugad [nest] to reflect the longing for
seeking home.
The 2022 edition of the ASEAN Artists Residency During their stay, Eunice and Saiful were immersed in the
Programme (AARP) brought two ASEAN artists to the global heart of Sharjah’s art scene as their studio was in the
stage, offering a month-long residency programme at the heritage house of Bait Obaid Al Shamsi. They also went
Sharjah Art Foundation in the United Arab Emirates. desert camping at Mleiha Archeological Centre, which
became the source of inspiration for their artwork.
Eunice Sanchez from the Philippines and Saiful Razman
from Malaysia were selected as the resident artists of the Away from home for the first time since the pandemic
programme’s special edition. Their works of art, produced broke out, Eunice says the residency turned into a journey
during the residency, were also exhibited at the ASEAN of self-discovery. Before the pandemic, she almost gave up
Pavilion during the World Expo 2020 in February 2022. pursuing the arts, thinking it was not her calling. However,
being locked up during the pandemic’s early days rekindled
“I heard about the programme through social media,” Saiful her passion for the arts.
says. “This is an opportunity for me to work with ASEAN
alongside other artists from Southeast Asian counterparts. I “When I applied, I proposed a concept of pugad [nest]
believe this programme will benefit the artists in this region to reflect the longing for seeking home. The concept is
by introducing our arts and crafts to the bigger platform.” ingrained in human history of movement and migration as
our ancestors used to be sailors, traders, and voyagers.
Although Saiful has collaborated with artists from Indonesia Little did I know that I would later experience the longing
and the Philippines before, this is his first time to work for my own sense of home, from cooking Filipino food
alongside other ASEAN artists on a regional platform. The to trying out the only Jollibee in Sharjah. It’s like a self-
AARP was Eunice’s first opportunity to collaborate with fulfilling prophecy,” Eunice muses.
another Southeast Asian artist.

Photo Credit: © ASEAN Secretariat / Flickr Snapshots
“ This is an opportunity for me to work

with ASEAN alongside other artists
from Southeast Asian counterparts.
For her piece, Eunice used the cyanotype photographic the form of paintings, art installations and videos. ‘Home
process, an alternative photographic process that utilises and Shelter’ is one of the sub-topics relating to the ideal
photo-sensitive iron salts and sunlight to create white landscape in my career.”
prints on a cyan-blue background. The white pattern in her
artwork depicts the paradox of home, a reflection on her The art pieces were handed over to the Secretariat during
journey—finding a home away from home—during her stay the ASEAN Day 55 Celebration on 8 August 2022. “We are
in Sharjah. delighted to have worked with ASEAN on this important
initiative that builds on the Foundation’s mandate to
Saiful created his artwork as a homage to the Heart of foster local, regional, and international development of
Sharjah. “I was amazed at how this city takes care of the contemporary art,” expressed Hoor Al Wasimi, President
historical monuments and the old structures such as and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation. ASEAN Deputy
buildings and walls. The way they designed this area is Secretary-General for Corporate and Community Affairs
fantastic,” explains Saiful. Tran Duc Binh also expressed appreciation to the Maybank
Foundation for its sponsorship of the programme.
Saiful used acrylic in the background of his artwork,
combined with the collage technique using medical Eunice and Saiful share that this programme shows the
gauze and tissue paper rolls. He says the medical gauze importance of collaboration in creating art and they wish
symbolises healing and protection, while the tissue paper for the programme to live on to nurture more artists in
represents the preservation of fragility, reflecting his the region. “Joining this programme, I realised that ASEAN
observation on how the historical buildings in Sharjah are artists have a lot to share. I hope we have our voice to tell
reconstructed and preserved. stories for our audience first. And our history, politics and
geography are much more connected in the past, and I
“I have been working on the subject of the landscape since hope to work together to create new arts,” explains Saiful.
2017, and it has developed into many series of works in
62
Snapshots
The ASEAN is deeply grateful to

the Government of India, through
the Indian Mission to ASEAN, for
its support to the magazine.
This collaboration reflects the

shared commitment of ASEAN and
India to disseminate knowledge
Photo Credit: © Stuart Pearce / Getty Images

and information on socio-cultural
development in ASEAN.
Po Nagar Cham Tower,

Nha Trang City, Viet Nam

The ASEAN Secretariat
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Department
Jalan Sisingamangaraja 70A,
Jakarta 12110, Indonesia
This publication was made possible with the support of:
The Government of India

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one vision

eff ort ffic

SOMRI COP- ASOEN

5 Driving Inclusive and

Transformation of the Hard-to-Reach in Programme

Senior Officer, Analysis

Layout by Foxidia Digital

3 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

THE INSIDE VIEW

ASEAN’s digital transformation

Photo Credit: ©Vasin Lee / Shutterstock

Digital infrastructure for healthcare

ASEAN’s digital economy landscape

Narrowing the divide, one

Driving Inclusive and

5 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Community intelligence for anticipatory humanitarian action; regional

The Senior Officials Meeting on Education launched a

Photo Credit: ©Shirley Preston / Shutterstock

7 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Chair of the 22nd ASEAN Cooperation

ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin shares ASEAN’s

What are the goals of the ACCSM

ACCSM Chair Ajman Meludin:

practices in ASEAN public service

Now, more than ever, it is crucial to

9 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Designing the Future of ASEAN:

Mega Irena Madyah Rahmi Lukri

Photo Credit: ©Tafotostock / Shutterstock

11 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Photo Credit: ©Tafotostock / Shutterstock

Roger Y. Chao Jr., PhD

13 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Digital ASEAN of transforming ASEAN into a leading

stakeholders to develop and deliver sustainable funding, intellectual

students, parents, teachers, digital to any community-building project.

15 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

The health sector is has emerged as an accepted means

Figure 1. National eHealth Strategy Toolkit

17 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Figure 2. Leadership and Governance Structure

ASEAN goes full

In a worldwide race towards digital

Ninety per cent of the digital merchants

19 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

21 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

IMPACT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA’S DIGITAL

20-25 6-7 160,000 30 5 to 10%

DIGITAL ECONOMY AND

To reduce carbon footprint:

Logistics providers can deploy electric Online transport sector can

23 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Digital Skills for Inclusive Growth

Photo Credit: ©The Asia Foundation

25 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Go Digital ASEAN Initiative

Kamalia Anum Zainal

Photo Credit: ©Kamalia Anum Zainal

27 THE ASEAN ISSUE 23/2022

Cultural Digital Ambassadors:

Nurul Aishah Ab Raman

A group photo during the

Photo Credit: ©Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia