Summary :
The first e-ABC meeting at Assumption University, Bangna Campus agreed on the following agenda for the Inaugural TELMIN-e-ABC Meeting to be held
at Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, on August 5, 2004.

Overview of ICT issues in ASEAN

1. Regional Centric Infrastructure

• Balancing US Centric
  Includes TV media and Internet. This affects social, culture, economy, politic and “security”. How to make a fair & balance treatment for equal opportunity?


• Low Cost Bandwidth Nowadays, most ASEAN countries connect directly to the US and pay for both directions. When we send e-mail to US, we pay the whole cost. When US send e-mail to us, we also pay the whole cost. Therefore, to be fair, both sides should share the cost, half and half.

2. Cross Application & Content

• eTourism
  - Should use ICT to promote more eCommerce in ASEAN 2.2 eCommerce
  - Should use ICT to promote tourism in ASEAN 2.3 eLearning
  - Should use ICT to promote Learning in ASEAN 2.4 etc.

3. Competency Standards

• HR Skill Standards


• Regional Certification & Accreditation

Example : Cross-Accreditation of eLearning Degrees.

4. Harmonization, Governance, Policy

4.1 Improve Trustworthiness of eBusiness. Should establish rules and regulations and best practices to convince the population that eBusiness is trustworthy.

4.2 Harmonization of Cyberlaw.
Should make cyberlaw in ASEAN countries compatible. Other ICT Issues in ASEAN


• Real ICT Implementation to support industry competitiveness among economies. ICT to support efficient industry and government (eSupply chain management, eProcurement, eLogistics) to make flow of information, communication, transaction and distribution faster, better, reliable, efficient and more integrated.



• Bridging Digital Divide.
  Business sectors should put attention on digital divide issue, i.e. problems in access to infrastructure as well as to information thru delivering affordable technology, services and solution.
  
  Concluding Remarks
  
  • Market and industry development of ICT in ASEAN currently has never been as good as today.
  • Economic turbulence in some countries brings an enormous challenge in ICT infrastructure development.
  • The market has been showing an aggressive growth such as in wireless and internet market.
  
  
  • In information service industry, a number of eBusiness initiatives are at par with develop countries.
  • ASEAN is relatively young in the ICT business. Most of business are SMEs which can be sources of innovations
  • There are still a number of issues needed to be resolved, and these may also become the common concern of ASEAN.

e-ABC First Meeting, August 3, 2004


e-ABC First Meeting at Assumption University of Thailand
August 3, 2004



Prof.Dr.Srisakdi Charmonman, e-ABC Chairman