Kuala lumpur: ASEAN and its Plus Three partners must strengthen collaboration in empowering women through digitalisation by focusing on capacity-building, innovation, and cross-border platforms, said Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang. In her keynote address at the ASEAN+3 Forum on Women and Digitalisation here today, she proposed three key areas of cooperation for the region’s way forward in supporting women’s empowerment through technology.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rubiah emphasized the need for shared training programs and digital literacy modules to benefit rural women across all countries. She also highlighted the importance of establishing funding and innovation hubs to support women-led start-ups and cooperatives with better access to finance, technology, and mentorship. Additionally, promoting cross-border e-commerce was suggested as a means to provide rural women entrepreneurs access to larger markets within ASEAN and East Asia.
Also present at the forum were the Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Malaysia, Thepthavone Sengmany; Secretary General of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Muhd Khair Razman Mohamed Annuar; Second Secretary of Japan’s Mission to ASEAN, Sae Kobayashi; and Assistant Director and Head of the Poverty Eradication and Gender Division, ASEAN Secretariat, Miguel Musngi. Rubiah reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to collaborate closely with ASEAN and its Plus Three partners to build a digital future that includes all women, families, and communities.
Rubiah stressed that the prosperity of rural women directly translates to the prosperity of rural communities and, consequently, stronger and more resilient nations. She described digitalisation as more than just technology, but as an opportunity for empowerment and equality, integral to ASEAN’s future. By empowering women, especially in rural areas, a dynamic and resilient digital economy can be achieved.
Citing the ASEAN Framework Action Plan on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (2021-2025), Rubiah noted that ASEAN aims for women to not only benefit from digitalisation but also to lead in shaping its direction. The action plan includes mechanisms to promote women’s participation in rural development and decision-making, ensuring inclusive growth.
Rubiah also highlighted the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, which aims for inclusive digital transformation, and the Declaration on Gender-Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, which underscores regional commitment to women’s inclusion in the digital economy.
From Malaysia’s perspective, Rubiah mentioned the government’s efforts through the JENDELA initiative, which aims to improve broadband quality and coverage, particularly in underserved areas. Significant achievements have been made, including connecting 839 rural and Orang Asli communities via satellite to cover last-mile gaps.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) 2024 data, internet access among rural households increased to 90.3 per cent in 2024, compared to 89.8 per cent in 2023, while urban households stood at 98.8 per cent.
Rubiah also discussed the ministry’s Desamall online platform, which connects rural entrepreneurs to broader markets. Since its inception in 2019, over 7,100 entrepreneurs, over 80 per cent of whom are women, have been onboarded. Additionally, the Entrepreneur Digitisation Programme (PPU) has equipped 4,450 entrepreneurs with essential digital business skills.
Through the ministry’s Institute of Rural Advancement (INFRA), various training and leadership programs are being implemented to strengthen women’s participation in the digital economy.
In conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, two significant events were held: the ASEAN Multistakeholder Dialogue on the ASEAN Master Plan on Rural Development and the ASEAN+3 Forum on Women and Digitalisation. These events gathered over 100 participants from ASEAN and Plus Three countries to discuss strategies for bridging the digital divide and promoting gender equality.