Ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies have pledged to advance responsible artificial intelligence adoption and strengthen digital infrastructure as part of a joint push for sustainable growth across the region.
Meeting in Incheon from Aug. 4–6 under the theme “Digital and AI Transformation toward Prosperity and Sustainable Growth for All,”* ministers responsible for ICT and digital policy endorsed commitments to expand connectivity, bridge digital divides, and promote AI governance. The gathering was chaired by Bae Kyunghoon, South Korea’s Minister of Science and ICT.
In their “Digital and AI Ministerial Statement,” ministers emphasized that AI and other digital technologies offer “enormous potential” to boost productivity, improve efficiency, and enhance public and private services — but stressed they must be deployed responsibly to maintain trust, safety, and accessibility.
The statement calls for greater cooperation among member economies to:
- Facilitate secure adoption of AI and other ICT tools to tackle socio-economic challenges
- Strengthen digital skills and workforce readiness through lifelong learning and capacity-building initiatives
- Expand affordable, resilient communications infrastructure to meet surging data demand in an energy- and resource-efficient manner
Bridging digital divides remains a core goal, with ministers urging policies that enable all people and economies to fully participate in the digital economy. They also underscored the importance of robust risk management strategies to counter digital threats and build trust in AI systems.
The ministers commended ongoing work by the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group and the Digital Economy Steering Group in advancing the “APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER),” which concludes its current work program in 2025. They signaled support for extending AIDER’s objectives beyond next year and welcomed South Korea’s leadership in developing a new APEC AI initiative by year’s end.
The statement closes with a call for sustained collaboration to ensure digital transformation benefits all member economies while mitigating its risks.
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