ASEAN’s Digital Push Opens Doors for Chinese Businesses

BEIJING,August 25, 2024 – ASEAN nationsare accelerating their digital transformation, presenting a lucrative opportunity for Chinese companies to capitalize on the region’s burgeoning digital economy.

The overall digital economic potential ofthe ASEAN market is enormous, said Jin Ke, Vice President of the East and Central China Committee of the CPA Australia, one of the world’s largest professionalaccounting bodies. ASEAN’s major economies have witnessed steady growth in recent years, demonstrating strong resilience and growth potential. Currently, all ASEAN countries are committed to unlocking the potential of the digital economy and accelerating digital transformation.

The ASEANDigital Economy Framework Agreement, launched in September 2023, aims to accelerate ASEAN’s digital transformation by covering areas like digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, cybersecurity, and digital payments.

Individual countries are also takingsignificant strides. Vietnam unveiled its 2030 Information and Communication Infrastructure Plan and 2050 Vision in February, aiming to upgrade its nationwide broadband network infrastructure by 2030. Indonesia launched its 2030 Indonesian Payment System Blueprint in July, further accelerating the country’sdigital payment adoption. Singapore announced in July an additional S$100 million investment to support financial institutions in building capabilities in quantum computing and artificial intelligence under its Financial Technology and Innovation 3.0 plan.

A recent survey by CPA Australia, 2024 Business Technology Application Survey, reveals astrong demand for digital technology application, cybersecurity protection and risk management, and talent in the ASEAN market over the next 12 months. 57% of ASEAN respondents expect to increase the use of artificial intelligence technology in the next 12 months, while 54% plan to increase the use of data analyticsand visualization software.

Chinese companies are already making their mark in Southeast Asia. At the 2024 China Mobile Southeast Asia Regional Cooperation Conference held in Bangkok in early August, China Mobile, alongside partners from Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore, launched the Jointly Building a NewFoundation for Southeast Asia’s Digital Economy Initiative. This initiative aims to promote digital infrastructure interconnectivity in Southeast Asia, supporting the development of digital economies and artificial intelligence in the region.

Huawei Cloud, with 18 cloud availability zones across the Asia Pacific region, boasts over 15 industry partners in Thailand and offersover 100 cloud services. According to an industry research report from December 2023, Huawei Cloud holds the top spot in Thailand’s hybrid cloud market share.

Alibaba has invested in the e-commerce platform Lazada in Southeast Asia and launched its first AI large language model version, SeaLLM, trained on Southeast Asian languages, at the end of last year. Alibaba also plans to build a data center in Vietnam.

Chinese technology companies going overseas can effectively leverage the industry cost advantages accumulated in the domestic market over the years, as well as the matching advantages of upstream and downstream industrial chains and supplychains formed by this, Jin Ke explained. ASEAN consumers have a strong demand for high-tech products and services like the internet, artificial intelligence and big data, and renewable energy. Chinese technology companies can fully leverage their advantages in integrated application innovation and rapid iteration in these areas, having already developed globally competitive products and solutions.

Moreover, Chinese electronic products are popular in Southeast Asia, enjoying a positive reputation and brand influence. For example, Huawei has established a unique brand image and product positioning in the Asian market. Through technological breakthroughs and market scale effects, Huawei has successfully entered the Asian market and created several best-selling products. Xiaomi’ssmartphones and smart home products, launched in the Asian market, have gained widespread consumer favor with their high cost-effectiveness and excellent user experience.

As ASEAN nations continue their digital journey, Chinese companies are well-positioned to play a significant role in shaping the region’s digital future. Their expertise, technological advancements,and understanding of the local market make them valuable partners in this exciting digital transformation.

【来源】http://www.chinanews.com/cj/2024/08-25/10274500.shtml