Courtesy Visit
Delegation of Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) to SEAMEO TED
04 April 2024
(Dr. Songheang Ai and ERIA Delegation)
On 4 April, 2024, the delegation of Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) paid an official visit to deepen cooperation and learn more about SEAMEO TED in terms of digital economy and IR 4.0 skills because SEAMEO TED works for technical and vocational high schools/colleges in the SEAMEO country members.
(Mr. Fusanori Iwasaki’s Talk about New Initiatives)
Mr. Fusanori Iwasaki, Director for Policy Research of ERIA expressed the significant role of ERIA in the ASEAN region including recent initiatives in pushing up the adoption of ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement in 2023 under Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and establishment of Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Center located in Indonesia to be lunched in August 2023. ERIA seeks supports in extending the activities of the center regionally in terms of digital and sustainable economy. The center has three missions consisting of (1) Catalyze digital innovation to empower people, governments, and businesses to promote sustainable development; (2) Provide a platform for knowledge sharing, training, and collaboration; (3) Prepare people for the jobs of the future nurturing tech-savvy talent to support entrepreneurship and startups. The center covers three priorities encompassing (1) Digital Trade: utilizing technology to bolster digital goods and services, global value chains, and e-commerce; (2) Data Governance: developing unified rules and cybersecurity measures; and (3) Innovation and Entrepreneurship: empowering small and inclusive businesses and startups through technology and innovation.
(Discussion on Cooperation Possibilities)
In addition, ERIA has established Technology University Network (TUN) to develop human resources and research capacities in digital and sustainable economy in the ASEAN region. ERIA has done the cooperation with universities in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia. To extend the cooperation in Cambodia, ERIA is committed in signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) in the near future. ERIA requested SEAMEO TED to engage in the proposed events, particularly the consultation workshop on digital and sustainable economy to be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in the middle of June 2024.
In response, Dr. Songheang Ai, director of SEAMEO TED underscored the support to these initiatives and engage in the activities as requested. SEAMEO TED were happy to contribute and share what it specializes following its vision and mission.