Welcome Remarks by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information (Singapore), at the Opening Ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting

14 November 2013 - Welcome Remarks by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information (Singapore), at the Opening Ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting, Singapore, 14 November 2013, 10.00am, Padang Ballroom, Raffles City Convention Centre

Welcome Remarks by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information (Singapore) at the Opening Ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting, Singapore, 14 November 2013, 10.00am, Padang Ballroom, Raffles City Convention Centre

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Honourable Ministers

ASEAN Secretary General, Le Luong Minh 

ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré 

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning.

1. Singapore is honoured to host the 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting ("13th TELMIN"). I would like to extend a warm welcome to the ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers, our Dialogue Partners, the International Telecommunications Union ("ITU") and delegation members, to Singapore.

Regional ICT Cooperation to Improve Lives

2. You may recall that the TELMIN was formed in 2001 with the objective of strengthening regional cooperation on Information and Communications Technologies, or ICT, so as to increase and strengthen regional connectivity, to support the integration of ASEAN. Over the past decade, TELMIN's work has expanded significantly. They include new areas of cooperation such as electronic government and cyber security. The participation of Dialogue Partners has also, over time, become an important part of TELMIN meetings as part of our efforts to strengthen extra-ASEAN relations and cooperation.

3. Much has changed in the past decade since Singapore last hosted TELMIN in 2003. The ITU has tracked telecommunications statistics since the year 2000, and some of the information captured provides a glimpse of the astounding transformation in the information technology landscape. For example, Cambodia’s mobile penetration rate exceeded many developed countries to achieve close to 132 per cent in 2012, from about 4 per cent in 2003. 3.1 million individuals in Vietnam used the Internet in 2003, with the number increasing more than 10 fold to 31.2 million individuals in 2012.  The United Nations Broadband Commission’s recent report ¹ informed that there are now 2.8 billion Internet users around the globe, with the largest increase coming from Asia – our region.  We are now using ICT more than ever, in almost every facet of our lives.

4. The Internet has undergone many changes. Today, it has taken on a pervasive, interactive and consumer-oriented form. Real-time communications allow us to access information anytime, anywhere. According to a recent ITU Report ², a new buzzword - The Internet of Things, which is a technological revolution that represents the future of computing and communications, is emerging. Its development will impact a number of important ICT fields, from wireless sensors to nanotechnology, and it is key that the benefits to people should remain the core of the overall vision for such developments. Governments should continue to develop policies to keep ICT affordable for citizens, while fostering conducive business environments and encouraging public-private partnerships to create opportunities for all. This will enable us to ensure that our peoples can benefit from a better quality of life – one that is harnessed from the transformative nature of infocomm.

5. The world has changed, and in tandem, the work of the TELMIN has also evolved.  As more and more of our people use and depend on ICT to improve their lives, our roles as the government and regulator have become more important. TELMIN has played a crucial role in enabling our people to harness the benefits of these technologies, and will continue to do so. It is through policies we implement to increase accessibility and adoption of these technologies, and the partnerships we forge, that enables our people to reap the full benefits of ICT.

Connecting Communities, Co-creating Possibilities

6. The theme for this year’s TELMIN, Connecting Communities, Co-Creating Possibilities is timely. Beyond the expansion of ICT infrastructure, we also commit to make ICT a key enabler of ASEAN’s socio-economic growth and integration efforts; as well as collaborate with our partners to enhance ICT connectivity to benefit our people.

7. Let me elaborate further. The first thrust of “Connecting Communities” lies at the heart of what TELMIN does, which is to strengthen regional ICT cooperation and enhance connectivity.  Toward this end, the ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2015 or AIM2015 was launched at the 10th TELMIN held in Malaysia in 2011, with the aim of making ICT a key enabler of ASEAN’s social and economic integration.  As we are past the half-way mark for AIM2015, I’m pleased to report that we have made good progress. About two-thirds of the AIM2015 have been completed, with the masterplan well on track for completion by 2015.

8. I am pleased that the 13th TELMIN in Singapore will provide a chance for the ASEAN Member states to review and take stock of our progress in AIM2015.

9. The second thrust “Co-Creating Possibilities”, represents the unity and solidarity of ASEAN Member States in working together to achieve common goals. We need to work closer together to explore more collaboration opportunities to strengthen the region and further leverage ICT to greater benefit our regional community. “Co-Creating Possibilities” is about harnessing innovation and encouraging transformation to take place to create a brighter future brought about by ICT in this region.  It also emphasizes that it is not a path that ASEAN need walk alone, but that we can co-create together with our dialogue partners and other stakeholders.

Conclusion

10. The work of the TELMIN is important, and its efforts can improve the lives of each and every person living in ASEAN.  As we strive to bring about greater economic growth and progress to ASEAN, the collaboration between individual governments in this region and the partnerships forged between the government, community, and industry will take on greater significance. The 13th TELMIN will provide the opportunity for us to discuss and explore how we can further leverage our strengths to collectively bring about greater benefits for a prosperous, vibrant and connected ASEAN community.

11. Thank you.

Notes to Editor

¹ UN Broadband Commission report released on 21 September 2013.

² ITU Internet Reports 2005: The Internet of Things