New Delhi, January 16, 2026 — The 6th ASEAN–India Digital Ministers’ (ADGMIN) Meeting was held virtually under the theme “Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence”, reaffirming the shared commitment of ASEAN Member States and India to deepen cooperation in the digital domain. The meeting marked a significant milestone with the approval of the ASEAN–India Digital Work Plan 2026, further strengthening regional digital integration, inclusion and innovation.
The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, and Shri Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology of Viet Nam.
Strengthening Regional Digital Cooperation
ADGMIN serves as an annual high-level forum bringing together Digital and Telecom Ministers of all 11 ASEAN Member States — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Viet Nam — along with Dialogue Partners including India, the US, UK, EU, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, Canada, China, Russia and others.
The discussions focused on:
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Deepening digital inclusion
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Strengthening regional connectivity
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Promoting integration of digital economies
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Ensuring that digital transformation supports equitable growth
Digital Work Plan 2026 Approved
A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of the ASEAN–India Digital Work Plan 2026, which prioritises:
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ICT training and capacity-building programmes
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India–ASEAN Regulators’ Conference
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Deployment of telecom and ICT solutions across ASEAN countries
The meeting also welcomed the operationalisation of a special ‘ASEAN–India Fund for Digital Future’, aimed at supporting sustainable digital cooperation projects.
Progress on Joint Digital Vision
The meeting acknowledged the ASEAN–India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation, adopted at the 21st ASEAN–India Summit in October 2024 (Vientiane, Lao PDR). This framework strengthens collaboration in:
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Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
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Financial Technology (FinTech)
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Cybersecurity
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Capacity building and knowledge sharing
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Sustainable digital investment
Progress under the ASEAN–India 2025 Digital Work Plan, particularly through capacity-building initiatives, was also reviewed positively.
India Showcases Digital Transformation and Indigenous Solutions
Addressing the meeting, Shri Amit Agrawal highlighted India’s rapid digital progress, including:
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Near-universal 4G coverage
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The world’s fastest 5G rollout
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Expansion of rural broadband via BharatNet
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India’s emergence as a global mobile manufacturing hub
He showcased India’s Digital Public Infrastructure platforms such as:
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Aadhaar
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UPI (Unified Payments Interface)
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DigiLocker
These platforms were presented as scalable, cost-effective solutions that ASEAN partners could adapt for inclusive governance and service delivery.
Sanchar Saathi Offered as Best Practice for User Protection
India also highlighted the Sanchar Saathi initiative, a flagship programme aimed at:
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Telecom user protection
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Fraud prevention
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SIM misuse detection
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Citizen empowerment
India offered to share best practices and technical learnings from Sanchar Saathi with ASEAN partners to strengthen digital trust and consumer protection.
Collaboration on Artificial Intelligence and Trusted Innovation
Shri Amit Agrawal emphasised the growing importance of AI, noting that the region is transitioning from connectivity to connected intelligence. He outlined India’s IndiaAI Mission, which prioritises:
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Safe and trusted AI
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Ethical and transparent innovation
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Capacity building in AI skills
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Standards development
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Practical, socially beneficial AI use cases
“Innovation must be aligned with responsibility, transparency and public trust,” he said, reaffirming India’s readiness to collaborate with ASEAN nations on building responsible AI ecosystems.
Shared Vision for an Inclusive Digital Future
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared vision to build an:
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Open digital ecosystem
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Secure and trusted digital infrastructure
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Inclusive digital economy
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Innovation-driven regional framework
This partnership, participants noted, will be critical to supporting sustainable growth and regional prosperity in an increasingly digital world.
Conclusion
The 6th ADGMIN Meeting marks another strong step forward in ASEAN–India digital cooperation. With the approval of the Digital Work Plan 2026, operationalisation of a dedicated digital fund, and growing collaboration in areas like AI, cybersecurity, DPI and telecom innovation, the partnership is evolving into a strategic pillar of regional development. India’s offer of scalable digital solutions and commitment to inclusive innovation positions it as a key digital partner for its’s future.
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Source: PIB
