ASEAN Taking The Lead In Shaping The World With Its Dynamic Economies, Says Tengku Zafrul 

By Karina Imran

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- ASEAN is no longer waiting for the world to change but is actively shaping it with the bloc’s dynamic economies and boundless digital energy for its 680 million people, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. 

He said ASEAN’s Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) is one such example as it stand to be a game-changer for regional integration and digital sovereignty. 

“ASEAN must be co-creators, designing, deploying and owning the technologies. These technologies will shape our future,” he said in his closing remarks at the Bloomberg Business Summit at ASEAN here today. 

He stressed that digital growth is impossible without digital infrastructure. 

“Data centres, connectivity, and digital identity are not just technical enablers; they are instruments of sovereignty, trust, and long-term competitiveness,” he said, adding that Malaysia is positioning itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and digital innovation.

Touching on environmental, social and governance (ESG), Tengku Zafrul said its conversation has evolved from compliance to impact and from obligation to opportunity.

He noted that Malaysia’s journey through the Green Investment Strategy, the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the i-ESG Framework and the National Energy Transition Roadmap, reflects the nation’s commitment to building a greener and smarter economy. 

Hence, he urged the private sector to move beyond net-zero promises toward net-positive outcomes.

-- BERNAMA