Kuala lumpur: M360 ASEAN is poised to become a pivotal platform for governments and industry players with differing perspectives to convene, deliberate, and identify common ground to advance ASEAN's digital future, as highlighted by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi emphasized Malaysia's unique position in uniting stakeholders who might otherwise be seen as poles apart, as demonstrated by the diverse lineup of partners and industry sponsors gathered at the event. During his opening remarks at M360 ASEAN 2026, he underscored the importance of civil discourse and collaboration under the GSMA umbrella to navigate the region's digital transformation challenges and opportunities.
Fahmi outlined the event's role in providing a space for governments, regulators, and industry players to meet, think, debate, and find collaborative paths forward. He expressed hope that alliances formed through the event would lead to shared prosperity, emphasizing that a common ASEAN future could yield widespread benefits for communities in the region.
Highlighting Malaysia's role, Fahmi noted that the country is not merely offering a market but a partnership, aiming to test solutions against real needs, measure effectiveness, and develop practical models with relevance beyond its borders. Addressing ASEAN's digital prospects, he mentioned that the successful implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) could propel the regional digital economy to USD2 trillion by 2030.
However, Fahmi cautioned that realizing this potential would require overcoming fragmented digital markets, access disparities, and a lack of digital trust, which could impede investment and growth. He stressed that the real measure of success is whether regional ambitions translate into practical opportunities across ASEAN.
Fahmi also emphasized the necessity of wider digital inclusion alongside robust safety measures, with trust being the cornerstone for citizens to use digital services confidently and for businesses to invest. He reiterated that trust is foundational for innovation, enabling safe participation and sustainable growth of digital services.
M360 ASEAN 2026, organized by the GSMA on September 9 and 10, gathers ministers, regulators, and industry leaders to discuss topics such as digital trust, artificial intelligence, resilient infrastructure, and regional digital integration. The event, held for the first time in the ASEAN region and in Malaysia, is endorsed by the Ministry of Communications, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as the host partner.