Asean telecommunications and information technology ministers yesterday made a joint statement reiterating the grouping's commitment to realise the benefits of regional integration through the use of ICT as an enabler to narrow the development gap within and between member states.

ICT as an enabler to narrow the development gap within and between member states.

The statement was made after the two-day "14th Asean Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting", which was held in Bangkok.

To transform Asean in the move towards smart communities, an Asean ICT Masterplan 2015 (AIM2015) is required.

The ministers agreed to complete the remaining measures in AIM2015 to facilitate the timely realisation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) by the end of this year.

Thailand's ICT Minister, Pornchai Rujiprapa, said the ministers had applauded efforts to promote a networked society and economy in Asean by encouraging innovation in the creation of online services, amongst other things, through the formulation of enabling policies for online service platforms, the promotion of a common secure transaction framework, promotion of online public and commercial services, and the holding of annual Asean ICT awards.

The ministers also agreed to support several initiatives to improve ICT connectivity, including the possible use of dynamic spectrum-allocation technology to better utilise scarce ratio frequencies, strengthening the submarine cable-protection regimes to ensure reliability of the communication network in Asean, and harmonising digital dividend spectrum utilisation.

They will also continue the development of human capital through the upgrading of ICT skills, the establishment of ICT scholarship programmes, and the development of ICT professionals to utilise the newly established Asean CIO Association and the network of Asean ICT Centres of Excellence in order to exchange information and share best practices, he said.

Moreover, ministers reaffirmed the importance of building confidence and security in the use of ICT among Asean citizens, public- and private-sector organisations through development of human and institutional capacity in network and information security.

This includes the framework-development activities of the Asean Network Security Action Council, information-security awareness campaigns, and Asean Computer Emergency Response Team cooperative activities.

The ministers also called for greater participation from the private sector to jointly develop quality ICT infrastructure and a skill-based workforce.