Philippines pushes digitalization in Asean meet

BANGKOK – President Duterte will push for cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-states in a seamless transition into the fourth industrial revolution (IR) during 34th ASEAN Summit here this weekend.

“We will be basically be discussing trends in the fourth industrial revolution, the external relations of ASEAN,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

“The President would have interventions as this is an important development taking place worldwide. Basically, they will be discussing how ASEAN can prepare, can cooperate, and prepare the ASEAN companies, ASEAN countries,” he added.

Duterte will participate in the 34th ASEAN Summit, with the theme “Advancing Partnership Towards Sustainability.” 

Aside from the summit plenary, the President will also attend a gala dinner for leaders, the leaders retreat, and the 13th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) summit.

During a press briefing initiated by the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the Office of the Global Media Affairs, Lopez said the President will discuss how Southeast Asian countries can maximize the emergence of digital technologies to reach the ASEAN vision. 

These include the goal to harmonize e-commerce rules and regulations, facilitate trade, handle consumer-related complaints and consumer-related issues that pertain to e-commerce. 

Lopez added that the President will also seek how the ASEAN can ready their human capital for the fourth industrial revolution.

“They will be tackling those issues as well as cooperation in capacity building, helping especially those countries that would need assistance in scaling up and upskilling their people towards the fourth industrial revolution skills that would be required,” he said.

During the summit, Lopez did not discount that ASEAN leaders might bring up the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement (FTA) with Asia-Pacific countries.