UK elevates regional AI partnership to drive growth
The UK is partnering with Malaysia to host the UK-ASEAN AI Innovation Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
UK-ASEAN AI Innovation Summit in Kuala Lumpur with Seema Maholtra, Minister for the Indo-Pacific at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Malaysia’s Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo and Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.
This is the biggest event the UK is hosting with Malaysia during its ASEAN Chair year, underlining the UK’s ambition to elevate its AI partnership with Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region as a catalyst for growth.
The opening of the three-day Summit was attended by Seema Malhotra, Minister for the Indo-Pacific at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Malaysia’s Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo and Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.
Over 120 regional delegates across government, academia, industry and civil society convened to discuss and advance shared priorities in AI, which will support ASEAN’s strategic ambitions, as well as respective national and regional AI ecosystem.
At the opening today, Minister Malhotra said:
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship has set a bold and exciting agenda, putting digital innovation and artificial intelligence at the heart of ASEAN’s growth.
ASEAN and the UK can do more together. The UK is committed to being a trusted partner for this region. There are many opportunities for research, innovation, and building commercial partnerships that strengthen our economies
The UK is a committed Dialogue Partner to ASEAN including in the areas of tech and AI. This multilateral summit focused on Business and Innovation partnerships, creating opportunities for collaboration between UK and ASEAN businesses in AI technology development and implementation.
The summit also explored AI solutions to enhance efficiency and accessibility of government and public service across ASEAN nations. In addition, the event showcased frameworks for ethical AI implementation that balance innovation with appropriate safeguards aligned to the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap.
Tech and digital is also a key pillar of the UK-Malaysia Strategic Partnership agreed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in January 2025.
Minister Gobind said:
Malaysia is building an AI ecosystem that is innovative, trusted, and connected to the region and the world. The challenge before us is not about who reaches the frontier first, but how we get there responsibly, inclusively, and for shared prosperity.
Malaysia stands ready to partner with the UK to co-innovate, co-invest, and co-lead in the AI era, ensuring that artificial intelligence becomes a true driver of growth for all.
Minister Malhotra is currently on her first overseas visit to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore since being appointed the Minister for Indo-Pacific in September. Her visit aims to build enduring relationships across the three Commonwealth partners and fellow members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
During her visit to Malaysia, Minister Malhotra also met Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin and interim Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Johari Abdul Ghani. A climate adaptation project launch and engagement with university students rounded up her programme in Malaysia.