Britain is on a clear mission to reconnect with the Asia-Pacific
This matters to the UK because this region is where the 21st century economy is being forged. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for example, is set to be the fastest-growing economic bloc this decade – no surprise, given the region's embrace of technology.
I saw this clearly in Singapore. From the early days of the national computerisation committee to the Smart Nation initiative and
National Artificial Intelligence Strategy , Singapore has consistently been ahead of the curve.
But this story is not just about Singapore. Whether meeting entrepreneurs in India or seeing British investment in a bustling Jakarta metro station, I've seen many examples this past year of the dynamism of the Indo-Pacific. It's no surprise to me that
Asean is already the world's fifth-largest economy. And with half the bloc's population aged under 30, it's only just getting started.
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'Asean's moment is now': Malaysia's Anwar on the bloc's response to AI, tariff challenges
'Asean's moment is now': Malaysia's Anwar on the bloc's response to AI, tariff challenges
The UK's Labour government, elected last year, is seizing the opportunities offered by new technology too. The UK is home to Europe's largest tech sector, and we're investing in the future. Our new Industrial Strategy targets high-growth sectors like digital technology, while our AI Opportunities Action Plan too seeks to strengthen our AI capabilities by supporting pioneering British AI firms.
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