India highlighted the offer of indigenous, cost-effective solutions to the ASEAN partners at the 6th ASEAN–India Digital Ministers’ (ADGMIN) Meeting held virtually on Friday, reaffirming the shared commitment of India and ASEAN Member States to deepen cooperation in the digital domain, according to a Ministry of Communications announcement dated January 16, 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, and Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology of Viet Nam.
Progress on Digital Cooperation
The annual forum brought together telecom and digital ministers from the 11 ASEAN Member States—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Viet Nam—along with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, including Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The meeting deliberated on strengthening regional digital cooperation, with a focus on digital inclusion, integration, and resilience.
The meeting noted the adoption of the ASEAN–India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation at the 21st ASEAN–India Summit held in October 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, aimed at strengthening cooperation on Digital Public Infrastructure, Financial Technology, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), capacity building and knowledge sharing, and sustainable financing and investment.
Ministers also reviewed progress under the ASEAN–India Digital Work Plan 2025 and welcomed the Digital Work Plan for 2026, which prioritises ICT training and capacity-building programmes, the India–ASEAN Regulators’ Conference, and the deployment of telecom and ICT solutions. The operationalisation of a special ASEAN–India Fund for Digital Future was also welcomed.
India Showcases Digital Public Infrastructure
Addressing the meeting, Agrawal reaffirmed India’s commitment to ASEAN–India digital cooperation and underscored the theme “Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence.” He said, “We have collectively worked to narrow digital divides, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure that digital transformation serves as a force for inclusion, resilience, and economic growth.”
According to the Ministry’s statement, he highlighted India’s rapid digital transformation, including near-universal 4G coverage, the world’s fastest 5G rollout, expanded rural broadband connectivity through BharatNet, and India’s emergence as a major mobile manufacturing hub.
He further showcased India’s Digital Public Infrastructure—such as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker—as proven platforms for inclusive growth and efficient service delivery. Indigenous initiatives such as Sanchar Saathi for telecom user protection and fraud prevention were also highlighted, with India offering to share best practices with ASEAN partners.
Focus on AI, Cybersecurity, and Capacity Building
Emphasising the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence, India outlined the IndiaAI Mission with a focus on safe and trusted AI, and expressed readiness to collaborate with ASEAN on AI capacity building, standards development, and practical use cases.
“As we move from connectivity to intelligence, Artificial Intelligence will be a defining force. India approaches AI with a clear conviction: innovation must be aligned with responsibility, transparency, and public trust,” Agrawal said.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared vision of India and ASEAN to build an open, secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven digital ecosystem to support regional growth and prosperity.
