APEC Roundtable highlight importance of data to drive growth

hartono · Jul 29, 2026

APEC Roundtable highlight importance of data to drive growth

The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, alongside other events of the Digital Week, was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. (The Chengdu Municipal People's Government) (The Chengdu Municipal People's Government)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Ministers and senior representatives from APEC member economies highlighted the increasingly important role of data in driving innovation, productivity, and economic growth.

The remarks were made during the Data for Growth High-Level Roundtable held in Chengdu on Saturday, according to a press statement issued on Sunday.

"Data is opening new spaces for economic and social development. It is already deeply integrated into scientific research, public services, and infrastructure," said Liu Liehong, Administrator of China's National Data Administration.

Opening the roundtable, Liu said data has become a foundational resource and an engine of innovation, reshaping how economies produce, govern, and grow.

"The value of data keeps expanding, but how to harness it to empower development and benefit our people is a common task for all of us."

"Strengthening exchange and cooperation around data for growth will help further enrich APEC’s digital economy cooperation," he added.

Discussions highlighted the need to make data more accessible while ensuring it is used responsibly, recognizing that high-quality data has become an essential resource for an economy increasingly powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

"The ways in which data resources are developed and used are diverse, and no single model is applicable to all economies. Open exchange can enhance understanding, experience-sharing can promote mutual learning, and practical cooperation can deliver win-win outcomes," Liu said.

Discussions also underscored the importance of interoperable data governance in giving businesses greater confidence to use and share data.

When data is integrated into business models and decision-making processes in a secure and responsible manner, ministers highlighted that it can improve efficiency, foster creativity, and strengthen competitiveness.

Rather than adopting identical rules, speakers called for different systems to work together securely as data moves across the region, helping facilitate faster trade and build more resilient supply chains.

"Advancing data for growth should become an important direction for the future joint efforts of APEC economies," Liu said.

"As digital technologies continue to develop, data-related issues have moved beyond any single field and increasingly span innovation, industry, trade, logistics, public services, and many other areas," Liu emphasized.

Participants also highlighted practical efforts to share public data to deliver benefits for businesses and society.

Weather data was cited as one key example. When integrated with predictive AI models, it can help farmers protect crops, enable logistics operators to prepare for disruptions, and allow emergency services to respond more quickly.

"Data creates value, and cooperation unlocks potential. Today’s roundtable is not the end of a discussion but a new starting point for APEC to deepen exchange and cooperation around data for growth, strengthen policy communication, and share the benefits of the digital era," Liu concluded.

Reporter: KatrianaEditor: Azis Kurmala Copyright © ANTARA 2026