ASEAN’s fourth strategy for COVID-19 recovery centers on digital transformation, an area of great potential in ASEAN. The United States supports digital transformation, promotes connectivity, and assists ASEAN in developing the region’s future innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. Our work under this pillar focuses on activities that support ASEAN’s work in cybersecurity, eCommerce and micro-, small-, and medium enterprises, fintech and eFinance, digital innovation, and digital regulations. Learn more about the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Strategy here.
Cyber
The inaugural ASEAN-U.S. Cyber Policy Dialogue was held in Singapore on October 3, 2019. The Dialogue demonstrated strong partnership and a shared vision of an open, interoperable, reliable and secure information communications technology (ICT) environment that fosters efficiency, innovation, communication, and economic prosperity. Learn more here.
The United States and Singapore co-hosted the 2020 Third Country Training Program (TCTP) Cybersecurity Workshop as a series with participants from all ASEAN countries as well as Timor-Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat. It covered a broad range of cyber policy topics including the importance of whole-of-government cyber coordination, frameworks and best practices for a risk-based approach to cybersecurity, and the framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Learn more here.
The Department of Homeland Security helped develop a continuum of industrial control systems (ICS) training in the region and expanded access to U.S.-based Industrial Control Systems (ICS) training through Idaho National Labs.
Regulation
The ASEAN-USAID Inclusive Growth in ASEAN through Innovation, Trade and E-Commerce (ASEAN-USAID IGNITE) supports ASEAN to increase the availability of relevant, affordable, and secure digitally-enabled services that reflect international standards and practices and facilitates e-commerce, especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Building on the momentum of the expanding digital economy, these activities enhance the shared prosperity of ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the United States. Download IGNITE one-pager here [PDF 168kb]
As part of the Digital connectivity and Cybersecurity partnership (DCCP), the Cross-Border Privacy Rules Socialization is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Commerce and USAID that will increase knowledge of and build capacity and improve environments for the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules System (CBRP).
Innovation
The US-ASEAN Business Alliance for Competitive Small and Medium Enterprises (Business Alliance) has trained over 4,000 small and medium enterprise (SME) owners utilizing the world-class expertise offered by US-ABC corporate members in areas such as Marketing and Business Management, Finance, Legal, Logistics, and Information Technology. The Business Alliance partners have now also developed an online training tool, the ASEAN SME Academy (Academy) that will reach many more SMEs. Learn more here.
The U.S.-ASEAN Connect Digital Economy Series promotes effective policy and regulatory practices for developing a thriving digital economy in ASEAN. Through dedicated funding, the Digital Economy Series connects key ASEAN government decision makers, private sector practitioners, think tanks, academics, and leading U.S. and regional companies to share best practices and expertise in harnessing the digital economy, discuss opportunities to accelerate the digital transformation of ASEAN, and facilitate an open an innovative digital environment that spurs growth, investment, and collaboration among local and American companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and women-owned businesses. Learn more here: [PDF 323kb]
eCommerce and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
In collaboration with ASEAN and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, supported by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), we launched the ASEAN SME Online Academy (http://www.asean-sme-academy.org/). This one-stop resource links small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to regional and global supply chains and allows users to take courses on topics ranging from finance to technology. Facebook, Google, HP, Microsoft and MasterCard have contributed to the development of the academy’s coursework. A resources section links users to more than 300 business associations, corporate initiatives, financial services and government services. Learn more here: [PDF 1MB].
FinTech and eFinance
The U.S.-ASEAN Connect Digital Economy Series promotes effective policy and regulatory practices for developing a thriving digital economy in ASEAN. Through dedicated funding, the Digital Economy Series connects key ASEAN government decision makers, private sector practitioners, think tanks, academics, and leading U.S. and regional companies to share best practices and expertise in harnessing the digital economy, discuss opportunities to accelerate the digital transformation of ASEAN, and facilitate an open an innovative digital environment that spurs growth, investment, and collaboration among local and American companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and women-owned businesses. Learn more here: [PDF 323kb]