Nurturing digital talent in Southeast Asia

(March 2024) Southeast Asia has lots of talented young people. Giving them the right digital skills is key to the region’s economic future. 

That’s the view of Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation.

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, aims to promote economic cooperation and growth among its member states. “These 10 ASEAN states have a combined population of 680 million people, 34% of whom are young,” Dr. Srisangnam pointed out in an interview with Huawei Editor-in-Chief Gavin Allen at MWC Barcelona 2024. MWC is the telecommunications industry's largest trade show. 

He noted that many of these people will be the region’s future leaders. “They’ll be the guys who innovate something that improves our quality of life. Digital is the skill set that we need to empower them in the 21st century.” 

He added that Seeds for the Future, Huawei’s flagship talent development program, is a great way to cultivate the digital talent the region needs. Such private-sector initiatives are crucial, he said, as they provide digital expertise and financial support, as well as practical training that enables fresh graduates to thrive in a competitive job market.