DILI, 19 January 2026 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, is participating in the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN), held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from January 12–16, 2026, under the theme “ASEAN in Adaptation: From Infrastructure Connectivity to Smart Connectivity.”
The opening session of ADGMIN 6 featured remarks by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, who welcomed ministers responsible for digital affairs from ASEAN Member States, international delegations, and representatives of the technology sector.
Timor-Leste’s participation is particularly significant, as the country – the newest ASEAN member state — is joining for the first time a ministerial-level meeting dedicated to the organization’s digital agenda. This reflects Timor-Leste’s commitment to regional integration and its active contribution to ASEAN’s digital future.
The meeting’s theme highlights ASEAN’s transition from building the physical foundations of connectivity to advancing intelligent connectivity, where data, digital intelligence, and artificial intelligence play an increasingly vital role in economic growth, public services, and competitiveness, in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
In his address, Minister Gonçalves Manetelu stated, “Timor-Leste is at a critical juncture between developing the fundamental bases and the ambition to prepare for the future.”
He emphasized that, guided by the Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 and national digital policies, Timor-Leste has been investing in expanding broadband connectivity, strengthening cybersecurity institutions, and developing frameworks for data protection and digital governance.
The Minister also cautioned about risks associated with emerging technologies, noting that the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026–2030 recognizes how artificial intelligence, automation, and other technologies are reshaping the threat landscape, creating new challenges in cybercrime, disinformation, fraud, and trust in digital systems.
He further stressed that for smaller and emerging digital economies like Timor-Leste, the costs of building resilient cybersecurity systems, sovereign data governance, and reliable AI frameworks are high. Without collective action, these challenges could deepen inequalities and create a new form of exclusion- the so-called “intelligence divide.”
In this context, Timor-Leste welcomed the Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN AI Security Network (ASEAN AI SAFE) and expressed support for strengthening regional cooperation mechanisms, including the operationalization of the ASEAN Regional CERT and the implementation of the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026–2030, which outlines concrete actions for information sharing, joint training, and capacity building.
At the conclusion of its participation, Timor-Leste reaffirmed its commitment to becoming an active and constructive member of the ASEAN digital community, progressively aligning national policies with regional standards and engaging in cooperation and capacity-building initiatives in digital transformation and cybersecurity.
TATOLI
