5 June 2025 – The AI Ready ASEAN Programme was officially launched today in Brunei Darussalam, marking a significant milestone in the region's digital transformation journey. The launching ceremony was graced by Yang Mulia Dr. Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) from the Ministry of Education, as Guest of Honour.
Held in conjuction with Digital Future Conference & Exhibition (DFCE) 2025, the ceremony took place at Mawaddah Hall, Setia Point, and was supported by Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI).
Attendees included Yang mulia Datin Paduka Professor Dr. Dayang Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor, Universiti Teknologi Brunei; Yang Mulia Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar, Chief Executive, AITI; Yang Mulia Mr. Diera Gala Paksi, Project Manager for AI Ready ASEAN at the ASEAN Foundation; and Yang Mulia Dayang Noor Hafizah Rashid, Director, Big BWN Project. Also in attendance was UTB’s Principal Officers, Officers from AITI and participants of the workshop.
The AI Ready ASEAN Programme, implemented by the ASEAN Foundation with support from Google.org, aimed to engage and empower 5.5 million individuals from all ten ASEAN Member States with essential artificial intelligence skills. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to prepare ASEAN citizens, including youth, educators, and parents, to thrive in the digital era while embracing AI responsibly and ethically.
In Brunei Darussalam, the ASEAN Foundation is working closely with two designated Local Implementing Partners: Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and Big BWN Project, with an objective of engaging and empower 20 thousand individuals in Brunei together.
"A 2024 report showing Southeast Asia attracted USD 30 billion in AI investments, potentially boosting ASEAN GDP 10-18% by 2030, emphasizing need for AI literacy training.” said Mr. Diera Gala Paksi, Project Manager for AI Ready ASEAN at the ASEAN Foundation. "Let this moment not just be the start of a programme, but the continuation of a meaningful partnership, where Brunei plays a central role in shaping a digitally capable, ethically aware ASEAN society."
“As ASEAN moves forward in its digitalisation agenda, we must ensure that our citizens — especially our youth, educators, and parents — are not merely passive consumers of technology, but active participants in shaping it. This means building digital confidence, nurturing ethical awareness, and developing the right set of skills and mindsets to responsibly navigate the AI-powered world,” said the Guest of Honour, Yang Mulia Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education. He also emphasised that beyond technical skills, values matter most in AI development. They called for technology that uplifts and empowers rather than divides or replaces, highlighting the need to embed ethics, inclusivity, and responsibility into all AI initiatives. They praised the AI Ready ASEAN programme for incorporating these core principles.
This programme's key highlights include a national scope targeting 20 thousand individuals in Brunei, with an inclusive approach that focuses specifically on youth, educators, and parents. Built on an ethical foundation that emphasises responsible and ethical AI adoption, the initiative incorporates practical learning opportunities including hands-on activities such as the "Hour of Code" workshop through Code.org.
The launching ceremony featured the exchange of funding grant agreements between the ASEAN Foundation and the local implementing partners, followed by an interactive "Hour of Code" workshop for participants. This workshop serves as one of the primary activities under the programme's awareness-raising campaign on artificial intelligence.
The AI Ready ASEAN Programme represents a collaborative effort to bridge the digital divide and ensure that Southeast Asian communities, including Brunei, are well-prepared for the AI-driven future. Through comprehensive training, awareness campaigns, and practical workshops, the initiative will help build a digitally literate and AI-ready population across the region.
Photo Credit: CCO Affendi
