ASEAN urged to accelerate digital transformation

Digitalisation will be the main driver of economic recovery in ASEAN following the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, remarked World Economic Forum (WEF) panellist Vijay Eswaran.

The QI Group chairman noted that in 2021, the number of Internet users in ASEAN grew by over 10% to 400 million people, and almost 70% of ASEAN’s population is now online, which is well above the global rate of 60%, reports Bernama. 

ASEAN’s digital economy is now valued at over US$100 billion, Eswaran said.

“However, for many ASEAN residents, expensive or poor internet quality or digital devices, lack of digital skills, as well as trust and security concerns prevent them from fully reaping their fair share of benefits from an inclusive digital economy,” he noted in a statement. 

The region will therefore need to upskill its workforce quickly to tackle barriers to digital adoption, and undertake reskill and upskill initiatives to ensure that the digital generation is equipped for a post-pandemic world. 

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“To drive digital transformation and to accommodate the new normal, businesses must quickly work with forward-thinking vendors or businesses that can successfully and securely facilitate digital transformation today and prevent obstacles tomorrow,” he said.