ASEAN accelerates digital transformation and greening trade ahead of APEC 2027

(Dan Tri) - The ABTF 2025 Forum focuses on trade, digital economy and green transformation, and is considered a strategic preparation step for Vietnam's role as host of APEC 2027.

On October 24, more than 300 delegates from the business, government and academia gathered at RMIT University Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Business and Technology Forum (ABTF) 2025. With the theme “Towards APEC 2027 in Vietnam”, the event is considered a strategic step, shaping important business priorities for the entire region in the context of Vietnam preparing for its role as host of APEC 2027.

The forum takes place at a pivotal time, when ASEAN is facing major changes in geopolitics , trade, the urgency of green transformation and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy.

Speaking at the event, former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Pham Quang Vinh pointed out ASEAN's business priorities towards APEC 2027.

He emphasized the importance of consensus: “On the journey to prepare for hosting APEC 2027, Vietnam wishes to cooperate with ASEAN countries and the Asia- Pacific region to establish common long-term priorities, from the digital economy, green trade to regional connectivity.” He affirmed that forums like ABTF 2025 are the bridge to help recommendations get closer to reality.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Pham Quang Vinh speaks at the forum (Photo: RMIT)

Discussion sessions at the regional economic forum focused on three major topics: trade - supply chain, digital economy and green transformation.

On trade, experts stressed the urgency of turning dialogue into action, increasing supply chain resilience and boosting intra-regional trade. Former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski said that “connectivity is not just about goods but also about people and skills”, proposing to build a more transparent mechanism for the recognition of qualifications and labor movement in the region.

In the digital economy, the focus is on implementing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) and expanding infrastructure to ensure sustainable development. Experts recommend balancing the application of AI in finance, public services with investment in digital infrastructure.

With the green transition, businesses are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities from green finance, renewable energy and electric vehicle ecosystems. Examples from Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia show that the region is making steady progress on the green growth journey.

Affirming the practical orientation, Professor Nguyen Quang Trung from RMIT Vietnam said: “ABTF 2025 is not only a place for dialogue but also a forum for action. Our focus is to move from discussion to implementation, making practical contributions to the APEC 2027 roadmap in Vietnam.”

The clearest demonstration of this commitment is the announcement of the plan to compile a bilingual publication “Phu Quoc 2027 ASEAN Business Priorities Brief”. This document will distill the perspectives and discussion results from the forum into specific policy recommendations. This will be an important and timely reference source for policymakers and the ASEAN business community on the journey towards APEC 2027.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/asean-tang-toc-chuyen-doi-so-va-xanh-hoa-thuong-mai-truoc-apec-2027-20251024145845880.htm