ASEAN digital ministers will convene in Hanoi from January 12-16, 2026 for a week-long conference to define the bloc’s next phase of digital integration, including the launch of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2026-2030.

The meeting comes at a critical moment for ASEAN, as the grouping moves beyond basic connectivity toward a model of smart integration driven by data, artificial intelligence, innovation and digital governance.

As digital technologies play a growing role in trade, public services and cross-border cooperation, ministers will examine how these tools can support sustainable economic growth, enhance regional competitiveness and narrow digital gaps among member states.

Discussions will also focus on aligning national digital strategies within a shared regional framework, as ASEAN prepares for its post-2025 phase of digital integration.

Key themes are expected to include digital skills development, governance capacity and institutional readiness, underscoring the need for coordinated policies to deliver inclusive and effective digital transformation.

The conference will open with ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meetings from January 12-14, alongside sessions with dialogue partners, thematic discussions and side events involving policymakers, industry representatives and technology experts.

These meetings will set the technical and policy foundation for ministerial-level deliberations.

January 15 will mark the official opening of the conference, featuring ASEAN ministerial meetings, dialogues with partners and an official reception combined with the ASEAN Digital Awards 2026 ceremony.

On January 16, ministers will continue engagements with dialogue partners and the ASEAN Business Council before formally announcing the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2026–2030, which will guide regional digital cooperation in the coming years.

According to Le Thi Viet Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the conference will also record several notable firsts.

It will be the first ASEAN ministerial-level meeting to include Timor-Leste as a full member of the bloc, she said at a press conference on December 31.

The ministerial session is also expected to welcome a Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations responsible for digital and emerging technologies, offering a global perspective on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and digital governance, Lam said.

Beyond policy discussions, the ASEAN Digital Awards will recognize outstanding digital solutions from across the region, while a technology showcase will highlight emerging products and applications shaping ASEAN’s digital future, she added.